Prostate Embolization as an Alternative to Open Surgery in Patients with Large Prostate and Moderate to Severe Lower...

To evaluate efficacy of prostate artery embolization (PAE) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostate volume (PV) > 100 cm(3).

This was a single-center retrospective cohort study. Between March 2009 and September 2014, PAE was performed in patients with a diagnosis of BPH, PV > 100 cm(3), and moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) refractory to medical treatment for at least 6 months or who had acute urinary retention. Success was defined as improved symptoms (International Prostate Symptom Score ≤ 15 and decrease of ≥ 25% from baseline score), improved quality of life (measured as score of ≤ 3 points or decrease of ≥ 1 point from baseline), and no need for additional treatment.

PAE was performed in 152 patients 48-87 years old (mean ± SD 67.4 y ± 7.5) with mean PV of 134.2 cm(3) ± 41.8 (range, 101-383 cm(3)). PAE was technically successful in 149 patients (98.0%). Symptomatic control was achieved for a median of 18 months ± 15.5 (range, 3-66 mo). There were 33 clinical failures (23.6%); 23 occurred in the short-term (≤ 6 mo), and 10 occurred in the medium-term (6-24 mo); there were no long-term failures (> 36 mo). Cumulative clinical success rates were 90%, 87.9%, 83.5%, 81.1%, and 77.8% at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months and 72.4% thereafter to 66 months (5.5 y).

PAE provides sustained short-, medium-, and long-term control for LUTS in patients with BPH and PV > 100 cm(3).