An Updated Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of Prostatic Artery Embolization vs. Transurethral Resection of the Prostate in the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Background: Prostatic artery embolization (PAE) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has been introduced into clinical practice, but conclusive evidence of efficacy and safety has been lacking.Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) vs. transurethral resection of prostate (TURP), we performed a meta-analysis of clinical trials.Methods: We searched randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from Pubmed, Embase, Wanfang, and CNKI from January 2000 to December 2020 and used RevMan 5.0 to analyze the data after five RCTs were included.Results: The reducing of prostate volume (PV) [Median mean (MD) 14.87; 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.52–22.22; P < 0.0001] and the increasing of maximum flow rate in free uroflowmetry (Qmax) (MD 3.73; 95% CI 0.19–7.27; P = 0.004) were more obvious in TURP than in PAE; however, the rate of lower sexual dysfunction [odds ratio (OR) 0.12; 95% CI 0.05–0.30; P < 0.00001] was lower in PAE compared with TURP. Meanwhile, no conspicuous difference in International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS) score (MD 1.42; 95% CI −0.92 to 3.75; P = 0.23), quality of life (Qol) score (MD 0.21; 95% CI −0.31 to 0.73; P = 0.43), post void residual (PVR) (MD 21.16; 95% CI −5.58 to 47.89; P = 0.12), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (MD 0.56; 95% CI −0.15 to 1.27; P = 0.12), and complications (OR 0.90; 95% CI 0.20–4.05; P = 0.89) between PAE and TURP group was shown.Conclusion: PAE may replace TURP as an alternative treatment for Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients who do not want to have surgery or with operational contraindications.

Efficacy of dexamethasone in reducing the postembolisation syndrome in men undergoing prostatic artery embolisation for benign prostatic hyperplasia: protocol for a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial—the ‘DEXAPAE’ study

IntroductionPostembolisation syndrome (PES) is the most common side effect of vascular embolisation of solid organs. Although prophylactic corticosteroids are known to reduce the incidence and severity of PES, no trials investigating their efficacy have been conducted in men undergoing prostatic artery embolisation (PAE). We postulate that steroids can have a similar effect in reducing PES after PAE. This paper describes the rationale and detailed protocol for a randomised controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of dexamethasone (DEXA) in reducing PES after PAE.Methods and analysisIn this single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we will enrol 60 individuals undergoing PAE for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Participants will be randomised to receive IV DEXA (24 mg) or placebo (saline). The primary outcomes will be postprocedural fever, pain and quality of life. The secondary outcomes will include postprocedural nausea, postprocedural medicine usage, laboratory parameters (C reactive protein, prostate-specific antigen) and early PAE results.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was obtained from the Danish Committee on Health Research Ethics in the Capital Region (H-20025910). The results from this trial will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals and national and international presentations.Trial registration numberClinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04588857; EudraCT number: 2020-000915-53.

Types of the prostate blood supply during super-selective embolization of prostatic arteries

Introduction. Pelvic arteries have various anatomy and anastomoses with other branches of the internal iliac artery (IIA). This explains the technical complexity of identification and catheterization of prostatic arteries (PA), as well as the possibility of complications associated with non-target embolization of prostatic artery anastomoses.Purpose of the study. To analyze the most common variants of prostate blood supply and evaluate the effectiveness of methods for identifying prostatic arteries.Materials and methods. The study included 168 patients treated from 2013 to 2021. For catheterization of the prostatic arteries, 4 – 5 Fr microconductors and 2 – 2.8 Fr microcatheters were used. For embolization, hydrogel microspheres with a diameter of 100 – 300 µm and 300 – 500 µm were used, as well as PVA microparticles with a diameter of 100 – 500 µm. Preoperatively multi-sliced computed tomography (MSCT) angiography of the pelvic organs was performed to determine the type of prostatic angioarchitectonics.Results. The use of preoperative MSCT angiography in combination with intraoperative digital subtraction angiography made it possible to determine the variations of prostatic artery divergence and identify their anastomoses in 100% of patients (336 pelvic sides). One prostatic artery was detected in 91.4% (307) of the pelvic sides. two independent pAs in 8.6% (29) of cases. Symmetrical anatomy of the prostatic arteries on both sides was revealed in 14.3% (24) patients, the remaining 85.7% (144) patients showed asymmetry on both sides. The absence of prostatic arteries anastomoses was detected in 75.5% (254) of the pelvic sides, and in 24.4% (82) of the pelvic sides, anastomoses were detected. Interlobar intraprostatic anastomoses were found in 10.1% (34) of the pelvic sides, communication with a. dorsalis penis was detected in 8% (27) of cases, with rectal arteries in 5.3% (18) of the pelvic sides and with urinary bladder arteries in 3.6% (12) of cases. Based on the analysis of the small pelvis angioarchitectonics in 168 patients, an anatomical classification of the prostatic arteries anatomy was proposed.Conclusion. Super-selective embolization of the prostatic arteries is a contemporary minimally invasive method of prostatic hyperplasia treatment with a high safety profile. The pelvic arteries have extremely various anatomy, as well as anastomoses with other branches of the internal iliac artery, which complicates the implementation of super-selective embolization of prostatic arteries. The combination of preoperative MSCT and intraoperative digital subtraction angiography makes it possible to identify the prostatic artery and its anastomoses in most cases.