Prostate artery embolisation (PAE) is an innovative treatment that can provide relief for lower urinary tract symptoms caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
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Prostate artery embolisation for benign prostatic hyperplasia
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What is it for?
Treatment that can provide relief for lower urinary tract symptoms caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia
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Treatment overview
The prostate often enlarges with increasing age. As it grows it can press on the urethra, blocking the flow of urine from the bladder.
This may cause bacteria to grow and develop into a lower urinary tract infection.
Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) symptoms can occur in up to 30% of men older than 65 years​, with the most common cause of problems being BPH, or a non-cancerous enlarged prostate.
To assess your suitability for treatment, a thorough medical examination is carried out by world-renowned Urologist, Professor Proka Dasgupta.
Prostate artery embolisation is performed by Consultant Endovascular Radiologist, Dr Jocelyn Brookes.
The procedure involves blocking the arteries that supply blood to the prostate, causing it to shrink.
FAQs
Most men are able to go back to normal activities within 48 hours, however it’s sensible not to do anything too strenuous.
Your Urology Consultant will arrange a post-op appointment, to discuss the effectiveness of the embolisation.
Prostate artery embolisation significantly reduces symptoms without complications, risks and recovery typically associated with surgery like TURP (Transurethral resection of the prostate).
- Shrinks the size of the prostate
- Relieves lower urinary tract symptoms
- Maintains sexual function and fertility
- Reduces risk of retrograde ejaculation
- Minimally-invasive with no scars
- Can return to full mobility within 48 hours
- Safe and effective alternative to surgery
- More than 3 out of 4 men avoid TURP surgery
- Problems passing urine, including difficulty starting the urine flow
- A weak stream and dribbling after going to the toilet
- Passing urine more frequently
- Getting up at night to pass urine
- An urgent need to pass urine
- Incontinence and leakage of urine
- The feeling that the bladder is not emptying properly
Our consultants, together with our experienced anaesthetists and nursing staff, work to minimise risks and support safe recovery.
No significant dangers are associated with prostate artery embolisation, but can occasionally cause:
- A small bruise at the site of the injection
- Most patients feel some mild pain during and after the procedure, which does not usually last more than 1 to 3 days
The complexity of finding difficult or small prostate arteries may lead to technical failures in very few cases, which can be rectified by TURP surgery.Â
Prostate artery embolisation at The London Clinic is carried out as a day-admission in our Angio suite for specialist interventional procedures that require the use of X-rays.
You will be laid on an X-ray table and sedated by a Consultant Anaesthetist.
A catheter (thin plastic tube) is then inserted into an artery in your groin. Using an X-ray, the catheter is threaded into your prostate arteries (left and right).
After your consultant has identified and visualised the prostate blood supply, they will inject a fluid infused with microparticles into these small arteries, blocking the blood supply to the enlarged prostate.
Research has shown that the prostate shrinks, relieving the symptoms of BPH.
Consultants
We offer Fixed Price Packages
Where possible, we’ll provide a fixed-price package for your hospital care. This covers your hospital stay, nursing, and use of our facilities, giving you a clear guide to what those costs will be.
- Pre-op assessment
- Hospital stay, nursing care and meals
- Tests, scans and physio during your stay
- Take-home medication (up to 5 days)
- Post-op follow-up appointments
- Standard equipment or prosthesis (if needed)
- Unplanned extended stay or ITU (if clinically required)
- Initial consultation and any tests done during it
- Consultant and anaesthetist fees (quoted separately)
- Physio or therapy before or after your stay
- Diagnostics before admission (unless agreed in your plan)
- Specialist medication beyond 5 days
- Ambulance transport or bespoke prosthetics
Your consultant’s fees are quoted separately and shared directly by their office after your consultation. These professional fees cover the time, expertise, and care provided by your consultant before, during, and after your treatment. See our full terms and conditions
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We’ve teamed up with Chrysalis to offer you funding options that allow you to spread the cost of your treatment.
If you choose to pay for your treatment at The London Clinic over 12 months, you can make use of a great 0% interest option and pay nothing extra. Or you can choose to pay over two to five years at 14.9% APR.
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