Prostatic artery embolization

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common health problem for men over 40. Symptoms include difficulty urinating and frequent urination, especially at night, which significantly impacts the quality of life for those with BPH.

Drug therapy is the first-line treatment in all cases. If symptoms improve and there is no large amount of residual urine (measured by ultrasound), medication alone may suffice.

However, in cases where symptoms do not respond to medication, interventional radiology or surgery may be necessary.

Endoscopic urethral dilation surgery is the most common solution when medication fails. However, this procedure requires general anesthesia and a long recovery period, in addition to potential side effects such as urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, or retrograde ejaculation.

To avoid the side effects of surgery, to avoid undergoing general anesthesia, and to avoid a long recovery period, an innovative solution has recently been developed using interventional radiology, where the arteries that feed the prostate are closed, which leads to the shrinkage of the prostate in size and an outcome equivalent to the surgical solution, while avoiding the effects of surgery.