Better Stream: Prostate Artery Embolization for the Treatment of BPH

In this episode, we discuss prostate artery embolization for the treatment of urinary symptoms for men with an enlarged prostate, otherwise known as BPH. In recent episodes, we've discussed several procedures used to treat BPH. Now, what all these procedures have in common is that they all involve actually carving away part of the prostate that is obstructing the urinary stream. But what if I told you that a procedure exists to treat BPH that does not actually involve touching the prostate at all? Rather, this procedure called prostate artery embolization manipulates the blood vessels of the prostate. But how does this procedure actually improve urinary flow? Is it safe? What is involved and what is the recovery like? How effective is prostate artery embolization in the short term and for the long haul? And why should men consider the procedure as opposed to other procedures that actually involve cutting or shaving away the prostate. In order to answer these questions and many more, we're lucky to be joined by Dr. Ari Isaacson. Dr. Isaacson is a board certified and licensed interventional radiologist who specializes in prostate artery embolization. After graduating medical school at USC, Dr. Isaacson completed his radiology and interventional radiology training at the University of North Carolina, where he stayed on as an Assistant and then Associate Professor of Radiology and was appointed Chief of the Division of vascular and interventional radiology. He currently practices at the prostate Centers of America where he also serves as the chair of quality and research. Dr. Isaacson has served as a principal investigator for multiple academic studies of prostate artery embolization and has recently published a textbook on the subject. #BPH #PAE #prostate #embolization