Brand New Minimally Invasive Treatment for Prostate Enlargement Shown to be Safe and Long-Lasting:
What are the symptoms of Prostate Enlargement?
When the prostate gland enlarges, it can cause affected men to experience difficulty urinating and even pain. The urine stream can become decreased, with weak flow, and there may be dribbling after urination. Many affected men feel the sensation that the bladder is not completely emptied causing them to feel the urge to urinate again soon after urinating. This can lead to sleep disturbance.
What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?
The prostate gland weighs on average 20 grams in a normal 21- to 30-year-old man. However, as a man ages, the prostate may get larger than double its original size or more, leading to compression or narrowing of the urinary tract. This is known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is not a cancer and can be treated with medication or surgery. About half of all men between the ages of 51 and 60 have BPH. Up to 90% of men over age 80 have BPH.
How is BPH diagnosed?
BPH is usually diagnosed by a primary care doctor or urologist during a history and physical examination. The doctor may perform a digital rectal exam to check the size and contour of the prostate gland. Helpful laboratory tests include the prostatic specific antigen level (PSA) and a urine specimen test. Advanced imaging tests such as MRI and flow measurements are also often used as supplementary information in the diagnosis and management of BPH.
Treatment for Prostate
What are the Usual Treatments for BPH?
Men with mild or moderate symptoms are usually treated with monitoring and surveillance to keep a close eye on the progression of BPH. If symptoms are severe and affecting the patient’s lifestyle, first line treatments are medications called Alpha Blockers, which relax the muscles in the urinary tract to increase flow, or 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors, which reduce the formation of the hormone leading to prostate enlargement. Surgical therapies are varied and include:
- Prostatic Stent
- High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)
- Holmium Laser Enucleation of Prostate (HoLEP)
- Interstitial Laser Coagulation (ILC)
- Transurethral Electroevaporation of The Prostate TUVP
- Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy (TUMT)
- Transurethral Needle Ablation (TUNA)
- Photoselective Vaporization (PVP)
- UroLift
- Catheterization
- Transurethral Prostate Resection
How is Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) Different?
Prostate artery embolization (PAE) is performed by an interventional radiologist. A small catheter is inserted through a tiny hole in the skin and positioned in the prostatic artery. From the catheter, small particles are injected which reduce or block the blood flow to the prostate. This causes the prostate to shrink, thereby relieving the narrowing of the urinary tract. The procedure can often times be done as a day surgery, leaves little to no scar, and has a very fast recovery time.
What the Research Says about PAE
Research presented by Dr. Joao M. Pisco, MD at the 2017 Society of Interventional Radiology annual meeting in Washington this year is some of the first information of its kind. The study looked at 1,000 men treated with PAE who had follow up times as long as 8 years. Clinical success was achieved in 78 to 89 percent of patients in the long-, medium-, and short-term intervals, respectively. Almost 95% of a subset of patients who could not urinate at all without use of a catheter could urinate spontaneously as early as 2 days after the procedure.
Seeking Treatment for BPH?
The first step in treating urinary flow symptoms is to seek consultation with your physician or urologist. Some patients with BPH may be candidates for Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) depending on their individual clinical situation. If you have been diagnosed with prostate enlargement, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and want to know more about the PAE procedure, please contact the expert Dallas-Fort Worth interventional radiologists at Precision VIR by calling 214-382-3200 or complete the form below.
Precision VIR serves the DFW area including Dallas, Fort Worth, Carrollton, Richardson, Garland, Mesquite, Highland Park, University Park, Park Cities, Allen, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Arlington, Irving, Grand Prairie, Flower Mound, Denton, Lewisville and all of North Texas.
This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Prior to starting any new treatment or questions regarding a medical condition, always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider.