Waking up multiple times each night to urinate takes a toll. Soris Pain & Vascular Institute performs prostate artery embolization to shrink an enlarged prostate through a catheter-based approach, offering an alternative to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and other surgical procedures.
PAE is an outpatient procedure with no urethral instrumentation. Patients go home the same day.
Soris Pain & Vascular Institute
Prostate artery embolization (PAE) is a catheter-based procedure that delivers microscopic particles into the prostatic arteries, reducing blood flow to the enlarged gland and causing it to shrink. The resulting volume reduction relieves urinary obstruction caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Our physicians advance a microcatheter from a small puncture in the wrist or groin artery to the internal iliac artery branches feeding the prostate. Cone-beam CT and fluoroscopy map the prostatic vasculature in real time.
Calibrated embolic particles are deposited into the prostatic arteries bilaterally. The gland shrinks progressively as its blood supply decreases.
The procedure typically takes 90 to 120 minutes under local anesthesia, with light sedation available if needed.
Procedure
Our team reviews your urologic workup including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, prostate volume on MRI or ultrasound, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and current medications. Soris Pain & Vascular Institute coordinates with your urologist when a referral is involved.
You rest on the procedure table. The catheter access site is numbed with local anesthetic, and light sedation is available if needed.
You may feel warmth in the pelvis as embolization proceeds. Our team monitors you throughout.
Patients go home the same day with mild pelvic discomfort that resolves over one to two days. Soris Pain & Vascular Institute schedules follow-up at 4 to 6 weeks and 3 months.
Urinary symptom improvement develops over one to three months as the prostate volume decreases.
Benefits
PAE accesses the prostate through the arterial system, not the urethra. This avoids the retrograde ejaculation, urethral stricture, and urinary incontinence risks associated with transurethral procedures.
Soris Pain & Vascular Institute performs PAE at our outpatient centers. No hospital stay or catheter bag is required after the procedure.
Published studies report preservation of erectile and ejaculatory function after PAE. The procedure does not disrupt the neurovascular bundles surrounding the prostate.
Most men resume normal routines within two to three days. There are no lifting restrictions or prolonged recovery protocols.
Conditions Treated with PAE
PAE is indicated for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) causing moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms such as urinary frequency, urgency, weak stream, and nocturia.
Candidates include men who have not responded to alpha-blockers or 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, or who prefer to avoid transurethral surgery.
Collaboration
Our physicians perform prostate artery embolization at our outpatient facilities. They use advanced image guidance to navigate the complex pelvic arterial anatomy.
Our care team contributes to patient evaluation and post-procedure monitoring.
FAQ
Studies report prostate volume reductions of 20 to 40 percent within three to six months. Symptom improvement typically exceeds the volumetric change, with IPSS scores decreasing by 50 percent or more.
Reference: Pisco J, Campos Pinheiro L, Bilhim T, et al. Prostatic arterial embolization for benign prostatic hyperplasia: short- and intermediate-term results. Radiology. 2013;266(2):668-77.
Published data indicates that PAE preserves erectile and ejaculatory function in the majority of treated patients. Soris Pain & Vascular Institute discusses these outcomes during your consultation.
Coverage is expanding as clinical evidence grows. Our team verifies your benefits before scheduling and discusses payment options if prior authorization is needed.
Board-certified physicians bringing hospital-level, minimally invasive interventional procedures to outpatient centers.
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