Prostatic artery embolisation (PAE) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) are two of the surgical options for treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic obstruction (LUTS/BPO). Our aim was to compare the efficacy and safety of PAE and TURP for LUTS/BPO treatment at long-term follow-up.
We conducted a randomised, open-label, single-centre trial at a Swiss tertiary care centre. The main outcome was the change in International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) after PAE versus TURP. Secondary outcomes included patient-reported outcomes, functional measures, and adverse events assessed at baseline and at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 60 mo. Between-group differences in the change from baseline to 5 yr were tested using two-sided Mann-Whitney and t tests.
Of the 103 patients with refractory LUTS/BPO who were randomised between 2014 and 2017, 18/48 who underwent PAE and 38/51 who underwent TURP reached the 60-mo follow-up visit. The mean reduction in IPSS from baseline to 5 yr was -7.78 points after PAE and -11.57 points after TURP (difference 3.79 points, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.66 to 8.24; p = 0.092). TURP was superior for most patient-reported secondary outcomes except for erectile function. At 5 yr, PAE was less effective than TURP regarding objective parameters, such as the improvement in maximum urinary flow rate (3.59 vs 9.30 ml/s, difference -5.71, 95% CI -10.72 to -0.70; p = 0. 027) and reduction in postvoid residual volume (27.81 vs 219.97 ml; difference 192.15, 95% CI 83.79-300.51; p = 0.001).
The improvement in LUTS/BPO at 5 yr after PAE was inferior to that achieved with TURP. The limitations of PAE should be considered during patient selection and counselling.
In this study, we show the long-term results of prostate artery embolisation (PAE) in comparison to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for the treatment of benign prostate enlargement causing urinary symptoms. PAE shows good long-term results in properly selected patients, although the improvements are less pronounced than with TURP. This trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT02054013.
European urology focus. 2024 Mar 25 [Epub ahead of print]
Gautier Müllhaupt, Lukas Hechelhammer, Nicole Graf, Livio Mordasini, Hans-Peter Schmid, Daniel S Engeler, Dominik Abt
Department of Urology, St. Gallen Cantonal Hospital and School of Medicine, University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland; Department of Urology, Spital Thun, Thun, Switzerland. Electronic address: ., Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, St. Gallen Cantonal Hospital, St. Gallen, Switzerland., Biostatistics Department, Clinical Trials Unit, St. Gallen Cantonal Hospital, St. Gallen, Switzerland., Department of Urology, St. Gallen Cantonal Hospital and School of Medicine, University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland; Uroviva Practice Sursee, Uroviva Group, Sursee, Switzerland., Department of Urology, St. Gallen Cantonal Hospital and School of Medicine, University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland., Department of Urology, St. Gallen Cantonal Hospital and School of Medicine, University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland; Department of Urology, Spitalzentrum Biel, Biel, Switzerland.