- About
- Conditions
- Services
- Providers
- Locations
- For Patients
- For Referrals
- Contact
Close
Traditional methods of treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)--or enlarged prostate–have typically consisted of medication, lifestyle changes, or surgery, which, while moderately effective, produce mixed results in satisfaction, symptom relief, and side effects. Prostate artery embolization (PAE), however, offers a non-surgical option that provides fast, lasting relief from BPH symptoms without the recovery period, risks, cost, or side effects of other modalities.
BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, is a common condition that affects roughly half of men between ages 51 and 60 but nearly 90% of men older than 80. Also known as an enlarged prostate, BPH can produce symptoms like weak urine flow, difficulty urinating, or frequent urination that, while generally harmless, can be inconvenient, embarrassing, and detrimental to overall quality of life.
For some men, the symptoms of BPH can be minimized with medication and lifestyle changes, including alpha-blockers to relax the muscles of the bladder and around the prostate; restricting caffeine, alcohol, and fluid intake; and increasing physical activity. For many others, however, these adjustments simply aren’t enough to experience real relief, and they may need more aggressive treatment.
In the past, this has meant invasive surgery, but with prostate artery embolization (PAE)--a procedure available in Oklahoma only at CardioVascular Health Clinic–men suffering from BPH can enjoy better, more consistent treatment results sooner with fewer side effects. Performed by Dr. Blake Parsons, an interventional radiologist at CardioVascular Health Clinic and one of a select few physicians from across the country experienced in this breakthrough procedure, PAE boasts tremendous benefits over more traditional approaches to BPH treatment.
“Surgery used to be the only way to treat this condition,” says Dr. Parsons, “but with PAE, we now have a highly effective, nonsurgical option.”
While the traditional approach of medications, lifestyle changes, and surgical procedures when necessary to treat BPH has been generally successful, patients tend to experience varying degrees of satisfaction, due in large part to the wide range of side effects and/or less-than-optimal outcomes that tend to accompany these methods.
For example, medications intended to shrink the prostate or manage symptoms can have both temporary or long-term side effects, as well as side effects that may require additional treatment, such as:
BPH medications can also interact negatively with other medications or pre-existing health conditions, increasing a person’s risk of developing other complications.
Traditional surgical options for treating BPH include–among others–transurethral needle ablation (TUNA), transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), or transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP), procedures designed to reduce the size of the prostate and relieve the symptoms of BPH.
TURP does this by removing portions of the prostate that are impeding urine flow.
Instead of removing prostate tissue, TUIP involves making small cuts in the prostate to reduce the pressure on the urethra and make urination easier. It is ideal for smaller prostates, but some patients may require a second procedure.
TUNA uses radio-frequency energy to heat and destroy prostate tissue.
However, all of these procedures require a scope to be inserted into the urethra and often involve mild pain, anesthesia, overnight hospital stays (in some cases), and several weeks of recovery, as well as the potential for sexual side effects, such as retrograde ejaculation or erectile dysfunction.
Another common surgery–primarily for larger prostates–is an open or simple prostatectomy, which involves making a cut in the abdominal wall in order to operate on the prostate from the outside. In addition to the need for anesthesia, a hospital setting, and 6-8 weeks of recovery, this procedure also carries an increased risk of sexual dysfunction, infection, urinary incontinence, injury to nearby organs, and bleeding, among others.
Prostate artery embolization is a non-surgical procedure that relies on X-ray guided technology to shrink the prostate and alleviate associated symptoms by injecting small particles of embolic material into the arteries that supply blood to the prostate. This is done via a thin, tiny catheter that is inserted into an artery in the wrist or thigh, bypassing the urethra. Once the material has been injected, the catheter is removed and a small, inflatable cuff placed around the insertion area until the artery has healed.
“Small microspheres are placed into the arteries supplying the prostate,” explains Dr. Parsons. By decreasing the blood flow, PAE can shrink the prostate by 20-40%, resulting in improved and less frequent urination.
“We’re essentially cutting the blood flow, shrinking the prostate, and eliminating the problem–like putting a 300-pound person on a 200 calorie-a-day diet.”
The entire procedure takes approximately 90 minutes and is performed as an outpatient procedure. In addition to less pain, no downtime, and an at-home recovery of two days or less according to Dr. Parsons, PAE is less expensive than traditional surgical options and delivers faster results, with some patients seeing improved symptoms as soon as one week and sustained and/or continued improvements over subsequent months and years.
PAE boasts a greater than 90% success rate and is ideal for men who:
PAE can also be an effective solution for patients who do not respond well to medication or who have experienced previously failed prostate surgeries.
Because of the very small size of prostatic arteries and the skill with which their “twists and turns” need to be navigated by the catheter, the PAE procedure can be challenging, requiring a deep understanding of both complex anatomy and advanced equipment. However, interventional radiologists like Dr. Parsons have the breadth and depth of experience in minimally invasive and image-guided procedures that make them well-suited for procedures like PAE.
Dr. Parsons in particular is one of the top specialists in the country in PAE, and has spent much of his career spearheading innovative procedures like this to diagnose and treat an array of vascular conditions. In collaboration with CardioVascular Health Clinic’s multidisciplinary team of experts and physicians, Dr. Parsons is able to work directly with other specialists to provide comprehensive, whole-person care for his patients beyond BPH treatments.
When performed, administered, and/or supervised by an experienced medical professional, traditional BPH treatments are largely safe, effective, and proven methods of managing or even mitigating the side effects and symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
PAE, however, promises something different–a non-invasive option to effectively and efficiently treat your enlarged prostate and associated symptoms in an outpatient setting with little to no recovery time, risk of side effects, or potential for additional complications.
If you or a loved one are struggling with the symptoms of BPH, or have had little to no success with other treatments like medication or surgery, schedule a consultation with Dr. Blake Parsons at CardioVascular Health Clinic. He and the team of specialists at CardioVascular Health Clinic have been at the forefront of innovative care for decades, pioneering treatments that redefine patient care and quality of life. Contact us today to explore your treatment options and take the first step toward better prostate health.
