Prostate artery embolisation

Prostate artery embolisation is available as an alternative, non surgical treatment for an enlarged prostate. Your surgeon will discuss with you whether this form of treatment is a suitable option for you following a CT scan.

The procedure will require a local anaesthetic to the area with a needle and thread being fed through an artery in your groin.  A small sheath is then passed over the wire with the wire then being removed. A catheter is then passed through the sheath to the arteries that supply blood into the prostate. Once the correct arteries have been identified via the use of x-ray and x-ray dye, a fluid containing thousands of tiny particles is injected into the catheter and released into the prostate. This will in turn block off the blood supply to the prostate. This procedure is performed on both the left and the right prostatic arteries.

The procedure will take between 2 and 3 hours and many patients will be allowed home on the day of the surgery, usually after between 4 and 6 hours after surgery. Please make sure you have a friend or member of your family to take you home after the procedure. In some cases an overnight stay will be required at the hospital.

We ask our patients to rest for 2 to 3 days after the procedure and painkillers will be made available should they be required.

Please do discuss any questions you may have with your consultant prior to the procedure.

If you are paying for your own treatment all costs will be discussed and explained prior to any treatment taking place. This will be confirmed in writing along with any surgeon fees, anaesthetist fees and hospital charges prior to admission.