Urinary

Benign prostatic hyperplasia refers to enlargement of the prostate, it is the most common non-cancerous tumor in men. One fourth of men age 55 have symptomatic BPH. Chances of symptoms increase with age and over half of men over 75 have symptoms.

• Frequent or urgent need to urinate.
• Increased frequency of urination at night (nocturia).
• Difficulty starting urination.
• Weak urine stream or a stream that stops and starts.
• Dribbling at the end of urination.
• Inability to completely empty the bladder.

If symptoms are poorly controlled with medication treatment of BPH may be beneficial.

Prostate artery embolization is much less invasive than surgical treatment options with no major incisions and a small puncture in the groin or wrist artery.

The procedure has a lower risk of urinary incontinence and sexual side effects such as erectile dysfunction than surgical options.

The procedure can be performed as an outpatient with no need to stay in the hospital.

General anesthesia is not required, most patients receive iv medication that makes them sedated, similar to a colonoscopy.

The arteries are accessed through a puncture smaller than 2 millimeters in diameter.

A small flexible tube called a catheter is gently advanced to the small arteries that supply both sides of the prostate.

Through the catheter very small beads, about the size of grains of sand, are slowly injected.

Over time the lack of blood flow to the prostate results in shrinking and improvement of urinary symptoms.

The procedure is relatively new and many patients are unaware of this new treatment technique. There have been many high quality studies showing the effectiveness and safety of prostate artery embolization. Inland Imaging has performed many prostate artery embolizations.