Society of Interventional radiology updates guidelines for prostatic artery embolization
The Society of Interventional Radiology has just released new guidelines pertaining to the use of prostatic artery embolization (PAE).
PAE is a minimally invasive interventional procedure used to treat enlarged prostate, also often referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia. Due to the pressure this condition puts on the bladder and urethra, it causes several lower urinary tract symptoms, such as dysuria, frequency, urgency and nocturia, etc.
Medication is typically the first line of treatment, though many patients do not respond to pharmaceuticals alone, often necessitating surgical solutions. Transurethral resection of the prostate is considered the gold standard, but it frequently leaves patients with unwanted side effects; open prostatectomy is another option, but it also comes with higher risk of negative side effects and adverse events. Prostatic artery embolization has emerged as an alternative for patients who don’t respond well to medication and are seeking alternatives to surgery.
“Prostatic artery embolization offers men a minimally invasive, effective treatment option for enlarged prostate that can significantly improve urinary symptoms while reducing the risks and recovery time associated with traditional surgery,” SIR President Saher S. Sabri, MD, said in a news release on the new guidelines. “This guidance outlines a team-based approach to care that will help ensure patients have access to this durable, minimally invasive treatment.”
SIR last updated its Multisociety Consensus Position Statement on prostatic artery embolization in 2019. Since then, additional data supporting the use of PAE has continued to pile up and numerous advances in technology have been made. These developments have provided new knowledge about benign prostatic hyperplasia and how embolization can be best utilized to ensure the best patient outcomes.
The new guidelines address information specific to patient selection, procedural technique, periprocedural care, outcome measures, safety, and future research directions.
The detailed update is now available in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.