Articles · Prostate
Is prostate artery embolization done without surgery?
Yes, there are no surgical cuts.
No cuts
Yes, there are no surgical cuts.
How it works
Our interventional radiologists make a tiny puncture in the artery at the wrist. A thin tube is guided to the prostate arteries, and tiny particles slow blood flow so the prostate shrinks over time.
The day of the procedure
Most men need light sedation or none, there's no catheter, and you go home the same day.
Afterward
Most men notice improvement in about a week.
Risks
Risks include bruising at the wrist and, rarely, particles reaching a nearby organ.
Is PAE right for me?
PAE may be discussed when an enlarged prostate is behind your symptoms, medicines have not brought enough relief, and you would rather avoid a tissue-removing operation. Our urologists at this office review your symptoms, prostate size and overall health before anyone recommends it. If you cannot urinate at all, go to an emergency room first, then call us for follow-up.
Book a visit with Advanced Urology today.
Questions to bring to your visit
- Is PAE an option for the size of my prostate?
- What would the day of the procedure look like for me?
What happens at your visit with us?
Our urologists first confirm that an enlarged prostate is behind your symptoms, often with a urine flow test and an ultrasound. If PAE looks like a fit, the procedure is performed by our interventional radiologists.
When should I call us?
Call us if medicine hasn’t eased your urinary symptoms and you would rather avoid surgery, or if you have been told your prostate is large. Prostate artery embolization is offered at our Alpharetta office; our urologists can discuss whether a larger prostate, usually over 50 grams, makes that path reasonable. Inability to urinate at all is an emergency-room problem.
How do our urologists approach this?
Our urologists compare PAE with the other enlarged prostate treatments Advanced Urology offers, such as UroLift and Aquablation, looking at prostate size, how medicines have gone, and whether you prefer to avoid an operation. An interventional radiologist on our team performs PAE through a small catheter in the thigh or wrist, as an outpatient procedure, and the trade-offs are reviewed before anything is booked.
Our urologists, physician assistants and nurse practitioners see adults from Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Crabapple and Mountain Park at our Alpharetta / Roswell office.
Related video
If surgery worries you, this Advanced Urology video explains PAE:
Related reading from our team
Related care: enlarged prostate questions, answered by our Alpharetta urologists.
Read more from Advanced Urology: Prostatic artery embolization (PAE) · Prostate artery embolization
For education, not medical advice. Every treatment has risks and benefits. Emergency? Call 911 or go to an emergency room.
Whenever you’re ready, our Alpharetta / Roswell team would be glad to hear from you.