Learn about the minimally invasive, BPH alternatives to surgery offered by NG Vascular and Vein Center
According to US Census data, there are over 800,000 men in Cook County over the age of 50. By looking at incidence rates of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) among men between the ages of 50 and 90, we can assume that more than a half million men are experiencing the effects of an enlarged prostate in this one county alone.
As men age, the prostate gland grows larger. This puts pressure on the bladder and urethra, which can cause all kinds of symptoms… from the urgent need to urinate, to difficulty starting urination, to painful urination, the inability to urinate and more. For some men, BPH will also lead to sexual dysfunction.
When symptoms become unbearable, men will seek treatment from a urologist. But will they be given all of their treatment options?
When conservative treatment (such as medications and lifestyle changes) fail, some doctors advocate a surgical procedure called transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), a surgery that cuts away a portion of the prostate gland. However, this is a major surgery with a surprisingly high rate of complications, including inflammation, infection, bladder injury, urinary incontinence and a loss of erections. A whopping 65% of men who have this surgery will experience something called retrograde ejaculation, where semen goes into the bladder and not out of the penis. Another complication of TURP is painful or difficult urination, which is the very problem that the surgery was intended to cure!
In recent years, a number of less invasive procedures have become available to treat BPH. One of these is UroLift®, a procedure that places metal clips within the body to “pull” the urethra away from the prostate. While this can alleviate some of the BPH symptoms, it does not address the root cause of the problem—the enlarged prostate.
At NG Vascular, we perform a highly effective minimally invasive procedure called prostate artery embolization (PAE). This non-surgical approach requires only a small nick in the skin where the doctor will access your blood stream. Using imaging, the doctor then guides a catheter to the arteries that feed the prostate gland. Small microparticles are injected into the vasculature, which reduces the flow of blood to the gland. The prostate shrinks, and the symptoms of BPH are reduced or eliminated entirely.
Compared with TURP, PAE is just as effective, yet safer and without risk of sexual side effects. Compared with UroLift® and other minimally invasive procedures, PAE addresses the root cause of the problem—the growing prostate—and is the only one of the non-surgical options that has resulted in improved sexual performance.
If you’re one of the half million men in Cook County with BPH and are looking for a solution, you’ll be pleased to know that our Palos Heights center in Cook County performs the PAE procedure on an outpatient basis. PAE is covered by most insurance and Medicare, takes about an hour, requires no hospitalization or general anesthesia, and you can return home and resume normal activities right after the procedure.
It’s important to know ALL of your options and BPH alternatives. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call (708) 888-1167.
Authored by Nazar Golewale, M.D.