Non-Surgical Prostate Enlargement Treatment: A New Era with Prostatic Artery Embolization in Antalya
Dear patients and colleagues,
I am Prof. Dr. Aykut Recep Aktaş. My specialisation is Interventional Radiology, and I take great pleasure in offering my patients the most innovative and minimally invasive treatment methods that modern medicine provides. Today, I want to discuss a non-surgical, effective treatment option for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), or benign prostate enlargement, which negatively impacts the quality of life for many men: Prostatic Artery Embolization (PAE).
BPH is a condition characterised by the enlargement of the prostate gland, which can affect almost every man as they age. This enlargement presses on the urinary tract, leading to symptoms such as frequent urination, nocturnal urination, weakened urine flow, and difficulty urinating. Alongside traditional treatment methods, this revolutionary technique offered by Interventional Radiology provides lasting relief without the need for surgery.
What is Prostatic Artery Embolization (PAE) and How Does it Work?
PAE involves blocking the arteries that supply blood to the prostate gland, using a thin catheter inserted through a small incision in the groin area. This procedure is performed under local anaesthesia, typically with mild sedation. As an interventional radiologist, I guide a very fine catheter, usually from the femoral artery in the groin, to reach the arteries supplying the prostate, using fluoroscopy (live X-ray guidance). Into these vessels, I inject microscopic particles (microspheres) that stop blood flow and cause the prostate tissue to shrink. The prostate tissue, deprived of blood supply, gradually shrinks over time. This reduction in size relieves pressure on the urinary tract, leading to a significant alleviation or complete resolution of BPH symptoms.
Advantages Over Traditional Surgical Methods
Prostatic Artery Embolization offers several significant advantages compared to traditional surgical interventions (such as TURP):
Minimally Invasive: This is a non-surgical procedure. Only a pinhole-sized incision is made in the skin. The risk of general anaesthesia is low, as local anaesthesia and mild sedation are usually sufficient.
Rapid Recovery: Patients can typically be discharged the same day or the following day and return to their daily activities quickly. The prolonged recovery periods and pain often associated with surgery are significantly reduced.
Lower Complication Risk: The risks associated with surgery, such as erectile dysfunction, retrograde ejaculation (semen flowing backward into the bladder), or urinary incontinence, are much lower with Prostatic Artery Embolization.
Low Bleeding Risk: This is a safer option for patients taking blood thinners or those at high risk of bleeding.
Long-lasting Relief: By cutting off the blood supply to a large part of the prostate, long-term control of symptoms is achieved.
Who is a Suitable Candidate?
Prostatic Artery Embolization is generally an ideal option for patients with moderate to severe BPH symptoms who have not responded to medication or who experience bothersome side effects from their medication. It is also an excellent alternative for men who prefer to avoid surgery, have health conditions that preclude general anaesthesia, or are concerned about surgery-related complications such as sexual dysfunction.
Permanent Symptom Alleviation with Prostatic Artery Embolization
PAE reduces the prostate's size, alleviating obstruction at the bladder outlet and improving urine flow. Patients typically experience a significant reduction in their symptoms within a few weeks after the procedure. Complaints such as frequent urination, nocturnal urination, weak urine stream, and the feeling of incomplete bladder emptying are substantially reduced or entirely disappear. This significantly enhances patients' quality of life. As the prostate size is permanently reduced, the relief provided is long-lasting.
Combining our expertise in Interventional Radiology with modern technologies, we offer our patients the safest and most effective treatment options. Prostatic Artery Embolization is a comfortable, fast, and surgical-alternative solution for those suffering from BPH symptoms. For more on our robotic technologies in interventional radiology, please visit our prostate biopsy page.
If you are experiencing symptoms of prostate enlargement and are curious about non-surgical treatment options, please do not hesitate to contact me for a detailed evaluation and a personalised treatment plan.