Prostatic artery embolization for the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia/lower urinary tract symptoms in elderly patients unfit for surgery: Our initial experience.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of prostatic artery embolization in the management of LUTS secondary to BPH in elderly patients unfit for surgery.
17 elderly patients with moderate to severe LUTS/BPH were included in the study and treated with prostatic artery embolization. The patients were evaluated by transrectal ultrasonography (to assess prostate size), IPSS, and PVR urine volume preoperatively and 6 months after the procedure.
The mean age of patients was 76.67 ± 7.69. The mean prostate volume was 139.8 ± 81.83 g. The mean preoperative IPSS and PVR were 23 ± 5.4, and 94.43 ± 88.94 ml, respectively. The mean operative time was 90 minutes. Only three patients suffered from postoperative complications (two patients suffered from urinary tract infection and one patient had partial penile necrosis). At 6 months follow up, there was a significant reduction in the prostate volume (101 ± 73.65 cc), IPSS (12.5 ± 3.65), and PVR urine volume (48.64 ± 43.55).
prostatic artery embolization is a safe and effective nonsurgical alternative treatment of BPH/LUTS particularly in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities.