UTERINE FIBROID OR PROSTATE EMBOLIZATION

It is a developing non-surgical technique for treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The procedure involves blocking the blood flow of small branches of the prostatic arteries using micro-particles injected via a small catheter to decrease the size of the prostate gland. It is a minimally invasive therapy which can be performed with local anesthesia, as an outpatient procedure.

Men with an enlarged prostate may suffer from symptoms of lower urinary tract obstruction, such as sensation of incomplete urination, inability to urinate, weak urinary stream, or having to urinate frequently (often awakening from sleep). If the symptoms cause a significant disruption to quality of life, a man may undergo initial treatment by oral medication, such as alpha-1 receptor blockers, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, or phosphodiesterase-5 enzyme inhibitors. Those with severe/progressive symptoms or those who do not experience symptom relief from medication have traditionally been considered for surgical intervention, with transurethral resection of the prostate or TURP as the standard of care.

However, there are problems with both medical and surgical treatments, including undesired side effects and variable effectiveness. For example, sexual dysfunction and orthostatic hypotension are side effects of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors.