Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) with Small Beads for the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is the most frequent cause of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTSs) in elderly populations. Minimally invasive treatments of BPH are safe and effective and are gaining popularity among both professionals and patients. Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) has proven to be effective in Trans-Urethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) in terms of prostate volume reduction and LUTS relief. PAE entails the selective catheterization of the prostatic artery and later embolization of distal vessels with beads of various calibers. Universal consensus regarding the ideal particle size is yet to be defined. We retrospectively evaluated 24 consecutive patients (median age: 75 years; range: 59-86 years) treated with PAE at our institution from October 2015 to November 2022. Particles of different sizes were employed; 12 patients were treated with 40-120 µm particles, 5 with 100 µm, 5 with 100-300 µm and 2 with 250 µm. Technical success, defined as selective prostate artery catheterization and controlled release of embolizing beads, was achieved in all patients. Removal vs. retention of the urinary catheter at the first post-procedural urological visit was the main clinical objective. No major peri-procedural complications were recorded, with 56% of patients successfully removing the urinary catheter.

Journal of personalized medicine. 2024 Jun 08*** epublish ***

Genti Xhepa, Lucilla Violetta Sciacqua, Andrea Vanzulli, Andrea Enzo Canì, Velio Ascenti, Alexis Ricoeur, Andrea Antonio Ianniello, Agostino Inzerillo, Paolo Nicotera, Filippo Del Grande, Anna Maria Ierardi, Gianpaolo Carrafiello

Istituto di Imaging della Svizzera Italiana (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), 6900 Lugano, Switzerland., Postgraduate School in Radiodiagnostics, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy., Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Ospedale di Garbagnate Milanese "Guido Salvini", ASST Rhodense, 20024 Garbagnate Milanese, Italy., Interventional Radiology Unit, University Hospital of Geneva (HUG), 1205 Geneva, Switzerland., Department of Radiology, Luigi Sacco University Hospital, 20157 Milan, Italy., AOUP Paolo Giaccone, Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic Department (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy., Radiology Unit, Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy., Department of Radiology, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy.