Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)

Alate Health

Interventional Radiology Clinic located in Houston, TX

Approximately 25% of men have enlarged prostate symptoms by the time they reach age 55 — and these numbers double in men 75 and older. Andrew Doe, MD, founded Alate Health to bring the safest and most effective treatment options available to men in the Houston area, including treating benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) with prostate artery embolization (PAE). To see if prostate artery embolization can address your symptoms, call Alate Health or schedule an appointment online today.

Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) Q & A

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PAE is ONLY covered by Traditional Medicare and Medicare advantage plans except for Aetna.

We also have self-pay options for those that are interested. This is specifically for the PAE procedure, treating those suffering from an enlarged prostate.

ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR PAE? CLICK HERE TO FIND OUTPAE Questionnaire

What is benign prostatic hypertrophy?

Benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH, is the medical term for having an enlarged prostate gland. The prostate surrounds the urethra, in front of the rectum between the penis and bladder.

As men grow older, it’s common for their prostate to grow larger, constricting the urethra and leading to uncomfortable symptoms, including:

Difficulty and stopping urination
Increased frequency or urgency to urinate
A weak or intermittent urine stream
Inability to fully empty the bladder

In addition to urination issues, BPH can sometimes cause urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder and kidney damage, or bladder stones.

How is BPH treated?

Treating BPH depends on several factors, including your age, overall health, the size of your prostate, and the severity of your symptoms. The most common treatment for mild or moderate BPH is medication.

For more severe BPH cases, your provider may recommend surgery. The experienced team of interventional radiologists at Alate Health offer prostate artery embolization, or PAE, an alternative treatment for benign prostatic hypertrophy.

What is prostate artery embolization (PAE)?

Also known as prostatic artery embolization, PAE uses X-ray technology to treat prostate enlargement.

During PAE, your interventional radiologist makes a small incision in your wrist or groin to access the blood vessels supplying your prostate. After inserting a small catheter, they inject an X-ray dye to map the blood vessels feeding your prostate.

To treat your prostate, your provider injects thousands of microscopic plastic beads, or microspheres, into the blood vessels to slow their blood supply, and then they remove your catheter. To treat your entire prostate, your interventional radiologist repeats this process on the other side of your body.

What can I expect from PAE?

PAE takes approximately two to three hours and doesn’t require general anesthesia. After having the prostate artery embolization at a state-of-the-art procedure suite at Alate Health, you can go home the same day. In most cases, recovery only takes a day or two before you can return to work or other regular activities.

Over the next few weeks, as your prostate loses its blood supply, it shrinks in size. This enables your urethra to open up again so urine can flow more freely. Unlike conventional surgical treatments for BPH that can cause complications, such as incontinence and impotence, PAE has few side effects and may even improve sexual function.

To learn more, call Alate Health or schedule an in-person or virtual appointment online today.

Benefits of PAE

Equivalent outcomes to TURP - 7 of 8 men report improved quality of life and urinary symptoms
No reported cases impotence after procedure
Up to 60% of men report improved sexual function
No need for catheter after procedure
Minimal pain after procedure
Quick recovery (1-2 days)
Performed under conscious sedation with no need for general anesthesia
Doesn’t eliminate possibility of other treatments for BPH
No limits on prostate size for treatment