Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common noncancerous tumor in men. But just because it’s noncancerous doesn’t mean that it can’t cause problems. This enlargement of the prostate gland is common in men as they age and leads to unwelcome urinary symptoms for many.
Fortunately, our team at Vascular & Interventional Associates, serving the areas of Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, OH, offers a minimally invasive way to treat an enlarged prostate. Using a procedure known as prostate artery embolization, we can relieve your symptoms without the need for traditional open surgery.
This procedure might be right for you if you experience BPH symptoms that interfere with your quality of life and your body doesn’t respond to treatment with prescription medication alone. Our doctors can determine if you’re a good candidate for prostate artery embolization (PAE).
As your prostate gland enlarges, it can start to impede flow through your urinary tract. Some of the signs that you’re experiencing obstructive BPH include:
Left untreated, prostate enlargement can eventually lead to incontinence, or the loss of bladder control.
When medications don’t provide relief, surgery is an effective option. And you don’t have to resort to open surgery to mitigate the symptoms of BPH. Prostate artery embolization is a minimally invasive procedure that our team at Vascular & Interventional Associates can perform to alleviate your symptoms.
During a PAE procedure, one of our interventional radiologists creates a very small incision in your upper thigh. Through this keyhole incision, your doctor injects small particles into the blood vessels in your prostate. This inhibits blood flow to the prostate in a way that’s safe for your overall health.
Minimizing blood flow to your enlarged prostate allows it to relax, reducing its size. For most men, this shrinking results in a notable decrease in — or even elimination of — BPH symptoms. What’s more, many men see results within days of their procedure.
The entire PAE procedure usually takes just a couple of hours. Because only a small incision is needed, your downtime, scarring, and risk of infection are all minimized. Plus, this is an outpatient procedure, meaning you can head home to relax and recover the same day.
If you’re living with BPH and it’s causing urinary problems for you, don’t hesitate to contact Vascular & Interventional Associates by phone, or book your appointment with us online. We can help you determine if prostate artery embolization is right for you.
