Tag: treatment for BPH

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Enlarged Prostate

Treatment Options for Benign Prostate Hyperplasia/Enlarged Prostate

Here at MidAtlantic Vascular & Interventional, we specialize in a non-invasive procedure to treat an enlarged prostate, called Prostate Artery Embolization. Though this method is highly effective and definitely worth your consideration, it is important that you are aware of some of the other treatment options available. Knowledge is key, and by understanding your options for treating an enlarged prostate, you can work with your doctor and make an informed decision as to which treatment would be best for your particular situation.

Over the next few weeks, we will take a look at what these options are. We will cover the following:

Medications to Treat Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH)/ Enlarged Prostate
     – In many cases, the symptoms of an enlarged prostate can be treated with medication. Though these medications do not cure the condition, oftentimes they are able to slow the progression of prostate growth. Some of the medications used to treat enlarged prostate are:

Alpha-blockers: Such as tamsulosin (Flomax) or terazosin (Hytrin).
– These medicines are used to relax muscle tissue.

5-alpha reductase inhibitors: Such as dutasteride (Avodart) and finasteride (Proscar).
– These medications are used to shrink the prostate.

A combination of the Alpha-Blockers and 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors
– Over time, this combination has been found to help control symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate, more than either medicine alone.

Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors: This includes vardenafil (Levitra), sildenafil (Viagra), and tadalifil (Cialis). However, only tadalifil (Cialis) is also FDA approved to help relieve the symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
– These medications increase blood flow to the penis, while also relaxing muscle cells in the bladder and prostate. As a result, it can ease urinary symptoms associated with Benign Prostate Hyperplasia.

Supplements
Though this form of alternative therapy is not necessarily recommended by physicians, it is out there, and some people do find it to be effective. That being said, these forms of treatment aren’t as closely regulated as the FDA-approved medicines, which means their safety, efficacy, and quality can be inconsistent. The most commonly used supplements to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate that we will look at are:

– Saw palmetto
– Beta-sitosterol
– Pygeum
– Rye grass

Surgeries to treat an enlarged prostate:

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)
– During this procedure, a urologist will insert a resectoscope into the urethra and will use it to remove excess tissue that is blocking the urine from leaving the bladder.

Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP)
– This is a similar procedure to Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), however, instead of prostate tissue being removed, the bladder neck and prostate are cut to relax the bladder opening, allowing urine to flow more freely.

Prostatectomy:
– This is a surgical procedure in which an incision is made through the abdomen or is performed laparoscopically and is done to remove the inner portion of the prostate gland.

GreenLight™ laser:
– This treatment vaporizes prostate tissue in order to create a channel in the urethra for free urination.

Plasma button electrovaporization:
– In this procedure, prostate tissue is removed using low-temperature plasma energy.

Non-invasive surgical treatments available to treat an enlarged prostate:

Water vapor therapy (Rezum):
– Water vapor therapy is an office-based procedure where water vapor is directly delivered to the prostate tissue, in order to destroy the excess tissue.

UroLift:
– This is an outpatient procedure whereby implants are used to pin the lateral prostate lobes out of the way in order to reduce obstruction.

Prostate Artery Embolization:
– This non-invasive procedure is one that we specialize in here at MidAtlantic Vascular and Interventional. Using catheters to deliver microscopic beads that block blood flow to the prostatic artery, and as a result, shrinks prostate tissue and thereby reduces symptoms of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia.

In our next article, we will begin our series on the various treatments for an enlarged prostate, starting with a deeper look at the medications used to treat benign prostate hyperplasia. The first medication we will look at belongs to a group of medicines called Alpha-Blockers.

Categories
Enlarged Prostate

Prostate Artery Embolization: What the Research Says

In our last article, we took a look at a non-invasive outpatient procedure to treat an enlarged prostate called Prostate Artery Embolization, which we specialize in here at MidAtlantic Vascular and Interventional. Today let’s take a look at what some of the research says about the efficacy of this procedure. 

A recent study published in the medical journal Interventional Radiology looked at 1,000 men treated with Prostate Artery Embolization between 2006 and 2017. The particpants of the study were followed up with for several years after the procedure, where they were evaluated for enlarged prostate symptoms. Specifically, the researchers measured the size of the prostate and evaluated the partipants regarding erectile dysfunction, and urinary issues.

Given that one of the primary symptoms of an enlarged prostate is its impact on urination, the study involved measuring not only the amount of urine retained in the bladder after urination, but researchers also measured the urinary flow rate.

Lastly, each participant’s prostate-specific antigen levels ( PSA) were checked, which is a test that is used to screen for prostate cancer.

Now the big question- What did they find?

The data from these measurements found that at the short-term mark, the Prostate Artery Embolization treatment had a cumulative success rate (measuring all of the variables listed above), of over 90%.

The cumulative success rate of the Prostate Artery Embolization treatment was then measured at the 3-year mark, at which point the researchers found there was an 82% success rate, and again every year after that, resulting in a cumulateive long term success rate of 79%.

The study also discovered that, unlike medication and surgeries which can have unwanted sexual side effects, men treated with Prostate Artery Embolization did not report any adverse effects on their sexual function.

This is just one of the research studies conducted on the effect of Prostate Artery Embolization on men experiencing adverse symptoms from an enlarged prostate. However, there are many more out there, and they all tell us one thing: Prostate Artery Embolization is an excellent option for men with BPH, because it works.

Here at MidAtlantic Vascular and Interventional, we are proud to offer Prostate Artery Embolization and would love to schedule a consultation to see if this procedure can benefit you. That being said, PAE is one of many treatment options that are available for an enlarged prostate, so it’s important to speak with your doctor to determine which treatment is best for your particular case.

In our next article, we will take a look at some of the other treatment options available, starting with medications that are used to treat an enlarged prostate. We will look at the pros and cons of each treatment, to help you to be as informed as possible when making these important decisions for your health.