Prostate Artery Embolization in Patients With Acute Urinary Retention

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Interventional Radiology

Background:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) frequently causes acute urinary retention (AUR).
• A trial without catheter (TWOC) is often attempted after initial management of AUR.
• Failure of TWOC necessitates alternative treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of prostate artery embolization (PAE) in patients experiencing AUR secondary to BPH.
• To assess PAE as a treatment option following unsuccessful TWOC despite alpha-blocker therapy.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study included twenty patients who failed TWOC for BPH-related AUR.
• All patients underwent PAE using calibrated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) microspheres.
• Outcomes included catheter removal, spontaneous voiding, and clinical success at six months.

Main Results:

• Fifteen out of twenty patients (75%) successfully had their bladder catheter removed and achieved spontaneous voiding.
• The overall clinical success rate at six months post-PAE was 70% (14 out of 20 patients).
• No severe adverse events were reported during the study period.

Conclusions:

• PAE demonstrates potential as an effective treatment for BPH-induced AUR after failed TWOC.
• Further research is warranted to establish the definitive role of PAE in this specific clinical scenario.