Typical time in the office
No groin puncture in most cases
by Medicare and most major plans
Access at the wrist. After numbing the skin, your physician places a thin sheath into the radial artery at the wrist. Groin access is used when wrist anatomy isn’t suitable, and we check for that beforehand. You’re awake and given medication to keep you relaxed and comfortable.
Finding the prostate arteries. Using live X ray imaging and contrast dye, your physician maps the small arteries supplying the prostate. These vessels are tiny and their anatomy varies from man to man, which is the part of this procedure that takes real skill and time. A microcatheter is then advanced into each one.
Blocking the blood supply. Microscopic beads are released into the prostate arteries, slowing blood flow to the overgrown tissue. Both sides are usually treated in the same session. The catheter comes out, a band goes on the wrist for a couple of hours, and you go home the same day.
Done in the office, home the same day.
You’re sedated but breathing on your own.
PAE does not cause retrograde ejaculation.
Size is not a barrier the way it is for some other procedures.
Suitable for many men on blood thinners or with heart or lung conditions that make anesthesia risky.
Medically necessary PAE is covered by Medicare and most major plans.
TURP causes retrograde ejaculation in the large majority of patients, meaning semen goes backward into the bladder. PAE does not carry that risk.
PAE has a lower risk of urinary incontinence than prostatectomy. No tissue is removed, so the muscles that control urination stay intact.
PAE has been used successfully on very large prostates, including men who were told their only option was open surgery.
Because there's no cutting or instruments through the urethra, PAE is an option for men who can't stop blood thinners or undergo general anesthesia.
Many men choose prostate artery embolization to get off BPH medications due to side effects like dizziness, fatigue, or sexual dysfunction.
Our physicians are fellowship trained interventional radiologists. Navigating small arteries under live imaging is the core of the specialty, not a service added onto something else.
Not every man with an enlarged prostate should have PAE. We’ll tell you if your symptoms point somewhere else, if your anatomy makes you a poor candidate, or if a urologist should see you first.
Our team verifies your benefits and tells you what to expect to pay before anything gets scheduled. Medicare and most major plans cover PAE when it’s medically necessary.
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Tucker, GA 30084
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BPH is non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. The prostate surrounds the top of the urethra, so as it grows it narrows the channel urine passes through. It’s extremely common with age and it is not related to prostate cancer, though the two can occur in the same man.
Waking at night to urinate, a weak or interrupted stream, waiting for the stream to start, sudden urgency, dribbling at the end, and feeling like the bladder hasn’t fully emptied. Symptoms build gradually, which is why many men don’t register how much has changed until sleep is affected.
PAE is a procedure that shrinks an enlarged prostate by reducing its blood supply. An interventional radiologist guides a very thin catheter into the arteries feeding the prostate and releases tiny beads that block flow to the overgrown tissue. There’s no incision, nothing is removed, and no instrument goes through the urethra.
Most men report far less discomfort than expected. The wrist puncture is numbed and you’re given medication to keep you comfortable through the procedure. Afterward some men have pelvic pressure, burning with urination, or a dull ache for a few days, usually managed with over the counter medication. See additional side effects research here.
Most men are back to desk work in a day or two. Full activity generally resumes within a week. You’ll be asked to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise briefly, and you’ll have a follow up to check how symptoms are tracking.
Some men improve within a few weeks. For most it’s gradual over two to six months, since the prostate shrinks slowly. If you’re expecting an overnight change, this isn’t that. What men usually report first is fewer trips at night.
Probably not. Prostate size limits some minimally invasive BPH procedures, but PAE has been performed successfully on very large glands, including in men told their only remaining option was open surgery. Imaging at your consultation will tell us what we’re working with.
Medicare and most major plans cover PAE when it’s medically necessary, meaning documented symptoms, appropriate imaging, and usually a trial of medication first. Requirements vary by plan. Our team verifies your benefits and tells you your expected cost before you schedule.
Yes, and that describes a large share of the men we treat. Failing or not tolerating medication is one of the common reasons to consider a procedure, and most insurers want that trial documented anyway.
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