Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) vs TURP

BPH Symptom Relief in Los Angeles

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While both prostate artery embolization and TURP are used to treat BPH, they do so by very different methods. Recall that urinary symptoms occur in BPH because the enlarged prostate obstructs the bladder and/or the urinary tract. Prostate artery embolization works by shrinking the enlarged prostate, whereas TURP works by cutting away pieces of the enlarged prostate. Prostate artery embolization involves the injection of micro-sized beads into the prostate artery. When injected, beads cause blood flow to the prostate to slow, causing the prostate to shrink. In turn, the shrinking prostate releases from the urinary tract, relieving urinary symptoms. Prostate artery embolization is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure. Rather than targeting the prostate directly, as is the case in TURP, a small catheter is inserted into your artery through a tiny puncture, usually in the groin. The catheter is then guided through your vascular system using imaging technology until it reaches the arteries that supply the prostate, where the beads are injected. Importantly, prostate artery embolization can treat any size prostate, and it does not at all preclude future prostate interventions should you require retreatment. In contrast to PAE, TURP involves the direct removal of prostate tissue using a resectoscope. A Resectoscope is a metal tube with a light, a camera, and an electrically heated loop of wire at the tip. The resectoscope is inserted into the urethra of the penis to reach the prostate, where the heated wire cuts away at pieces of prostate tissue that are blocking urine flow. Pieces of the resected prostate are pushed into the bladder by injecting fluid, and a catheter is used to remove the pieces of tissue after resection is complete. In addition to how much more invasive it is than prostate artery embolization, another major limitation of TURP is that it is only indicated for prostates of a certain size, namely those between 30 ml and 80 ml.

One of the greatest advantages of prostate artery embolization over TURP is the shorter recovery time. PAE is an outpatient procedure, meaning that patients will usually go home just 1-2 hours after their procedure. Healing after the procedure is also faster than TURP, with most patients making a full recovery 1-2 weeks following the procedure, and resuming all normal activities within roughly 10 days. Recovery from TURP is a bit more complicated. Due to the invasive nature of the procedure, TURP requires catheterization for 24-48 hours after surgery before you’re able to urinate on your own. Healing is also delayed in comparison to PAE, with patients usually requiring 3-4 weeks post-op to reach full recovery. Even after recovering, TURP patients are advised to avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for up to 6 weeks following the procedure.

Men have a LOT of options when it comes to BPH treatment, including several unique therapies that aren’t covered in this article. Patients often choose prostate artery embolization because it is less invasive than traditional surgery and less traumatic than other specialized interventions like TURP that target the prostate directly. Compared to other therapies, PAE provides minimal risk of sexual side effects, low risk of urinary incontinence, no hospital stay, quick recovery, and minimal downtime following the procedure. For all of these benefits, we recommend prostate artery embolization to most of our BPH patients. Get in touch with us at ProVascularMD to learn more about your options, including PAE.

Prostate Artery Embolization in Los Angeles

See a Prostate Specialist