[Prostatic arterial embolization for benign prostatic hyperplasia in high-risk aged males]

Area of Science:

• Interventional Urology
• Geriatric Medicine
• Vascular Interventions

Background:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in aging men, often leading to lower urinary tract symptoms.
• High-risk patients may not be suitable for traditional surgical BPH treatments.
• Prostatic arterial embolization (PAE) offers a minimally invasive alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of PAE for treating BPH in elderly men deemed high-risk for other procedures.
• To assess the impact of PAE on urinary symptom scores, quality of life, and prostate volume.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of clinical data from 21 high-risk BPH patients (aged 77-91 years).
• All patients underwent successful PAE.
• Clinical outcomes including International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS), Quality of Life (QOL) scores, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), postvoid residual urine volume (PVR), and prostate volume were assessed pre- and post-procedure.

Main Results:

• PAE was technically successful in all patients.
• Significant improvements were observed in IPSS, QOL scores, Qmax, and PVR at 2 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months post-PAE compared to baseline (all P < 0.05).
• Prostate volume and blood flow velocity also significantly decreased post-procedure (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• PAE is a safe and effective treatment option for benign prostatic hyperplasia in high-risk, elderly male patients.
• The procedure leads to substantial and sustained improvements in lower urinary tract symptoms and objective parameters.
• PAE provides a valuable therapeutic choice for a challenging patient population.