Prostate artery embolisation for benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Interventional Radiology
• Minimally Invasive Procedures

Background:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) commonly causes lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men.
• Prostate artery embolisation (PAE) is an emerging minimally invasive treatment option for BPH-related LUTS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the efficacy and safety of PAE for treating BPH with LUTS.
• To evaluate outcomes including symptom scores, quality of life, and complications.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines.
• Included 13 studies with 1,254 patients and >6 months follow-up.
• Analyzed data on IPSS, QoL, IIEF-5, PV, PSA, Qmax, PVR, and complications.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in all investigated outcomes at 12-month follow-up.
• Mean International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) improved significantly in patients with moderate to severe LUTS.
• Major complications occurred in only 0.3% of cases.

Conclusions:

• PAE is an effective treatment for moderate to severe LUTS in men with BPH.
• The procedure is associated with a low risk of complications.
• Techniques like cone-beam CT may further reduce risks such as non-target embolisation.