title: Quality of life and clinical symptom improvement support prostatic artery embolization for patients with acute urinary retention caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To show that prostatic artery embolization (PAE) improves quality of life (QoL) and lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with acute urinary retention caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a single-center prospective study of PAE in 11 patients with BPH managed with indwelling urinary catheters. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), ultrasound, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, QoL, and urodynamic tests were used to assess outcomes. Prostate size ranged from 30 to 90 g, and embolizations were performed with 300-500-μm Embosphere microspheres.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of technical success (ie, bilateral PAE) was 75%, and the rate of clinical success (ie, catheter removal and symptom improvement) was 91% (10 of 11 patients). Postembolization syndrome manifested as mild pain in the perineum, retropubic area, and/or urethra. Ten of 11 patients urinated spontaneously after Foley catheter removal 4-25 days after PAE (mean, 12.1 d). No major complications were observed. Follow-up ranged from 19 to 48 months. In an asymptomatic patient, a discrete area of hypoperfusion suggesting small ischemia of the bladder was observed on 30-day MR imaging follow-up, but the bladder was normal on 90-day MR imaging. After 1 year, mean prostate volume reduction was greater than 30%, symptoms were mild (mean IPSS, 2.8 ± 2.1; P = .04), no erectile dysfunction was observed, and QoL improved significantly (mean, 0.4 ± 0.5; P = .001) using the paired t test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with severe symptoms and acute urinary retention caused by BPH can be treated safely by PAE, which improves clinical symptoms and QoL.
authors: Department of Radiology, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Rua Teodoro Sampaio, 352/17, Sao Paulo 05406-000, Brazil. fcarnevale@uol.com.br
authors: Francisco C
authors: FC
authors: Carnevale
authors: Joaquim M
authors: JM
authors: da Motta-Leal-Filho
authors: Alberto A
authors: AA
authors: Antunes
authors: Ronaldo H
authors: RH
authors: Baroni
authors: Antonio S Z
authors: AS
authors: Marcelino
authors: Luciana M O
authors: LM
authors: Cerri
authors: Eduardo M
authors: EM
authors: Yoshinaga
authors: Giovanni G
authors: GG
authors: Cerri
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Srougi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001938:Brazil; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011467:Prostate / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D062885:Urinary Catheters; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014563:Urodynamics