Prostate artery embolisation

SHRINKING AN ENLARGED PROSTATE


A minimally-invasive, non-surgical procedure to treat an enlarged prostate by shrinking it

Enquiries & Appointments

About an enlarged prostate

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland near the neck of the bladder. An enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) isn't normally cancerous but it can put pressure on the urethra and make it difficult to pass urine.

Prostate artery embolisation (PAE) is a minimally-invasive, non-surgical procedure designed to treat an enlarged prostate by blocking off the arteries that feed it. By doing so, it shrinks the prostate.

In all published PAE trails to date, a symptomatic improvement is seen in just over 80 per cent of men at 3 to 12 months, and these improvements are sustained at medium- and long-term follow-up appointments, where there is a cumulative success rate of 78 per cent.

NICE approved PAE for routine use in April 2018 and our team of consultants have performed more than 300 PAE cases in the UK with excellent results.

Need to know

A highly trained interventional radiologist, who is experienced in advanced embolisation techniques, performs the procedure. They'll typically make a single puncture in the groin or, occasionally, the wrist or arm. This is done under local anaesthetic. They will then insert thin, hollow tubes, known as catheters, into both the right and left prostate arteries under direct X-Ray guidance. These prostatic arteries are then closed using 250-400 micron-sized embolic particles.

Prostate artery embolisation takes approximately two hours to perform and you can expect to be discharged after four hours provided you are fit and able to leave. Men needing to travel out of the area or those who are less fit may require an overnight stay in hospital. Men who plan to fly home may do so after four to five days (short-haul) or seven to ten days (long haul).
Your consultant will explain prostate artery embolisation and answer any questions you might have. Like all procedures, there may be some risks and side effects involved. There is a slight risk of injury to the bladder, rectum and genitals because of their close proximity to the prostate. Your consultant will explain these to you.
Post-procedural pain is usually mild to moderate and complications reported to date have been rare and mostly involve minor bruising of the groin. This discomfort can be managed by simple anti-inflammatory and pain killing oral medications. After having your prostate artery embolisation, your urology consultant will let you know when you can get back to your usual routine. You'll most likely be called back for a post-op appointment to discuss the effectiveness of the embolisation.

Our Prostate artery embolisation consultants

Dr Jeremiah Healy

Dr Jeremiah Healy

Radiology

Dr Niall Power

Dr Niall Power

Radiology

Dr Neil Rane

Dr Neil Rane

Radiology

Dr Kannan Rajesparan

Dr Kannan Rajesparan

Radiology

Our Prostate artery embolisation locations

The Harborne Hospital

The Harborne Hospital

Mindelsohn Way B15 2FQ Birmingham
The Wellington Hospital

The Wellington Hospital

8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
London Bridge Hospital

London Bridge Hospital

27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Princess Grace Hospital

The Princess Grace Hospital

42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Shard Outpatients

The Shard Outpatients

The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London

Patient stories

This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.