The History of Prostatic Arterial Embolization

The principal mechanism of prostatic arterial embolization (PAE) is occlusion of the prostatic artery (PA) by embolic agents, which results in ischemic necrosis, reduction of prostate volume (PV), and relief of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). PAE is a safe and effective method to treat BPH with minimal invasion. According to the outcomes of several studies, the clinical symptoms improved and the prognosis is good after PAE with low incidence of retrograde ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, and sphincter injury.