Introduction: Prostatic artery embolization (PAE) has recently
started to be viewed as a promising technology that could
be an alternative to different treatment options of benign
prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), especially in high-risk patients.
The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety
of PAE in BPH patients who are at high risk for surgery and/
or anesthesia. Materials and Methods: Between June 2013
and February 2015, BPH patients >50 years with lower urinary
tract symptoms (LUTS) refractory to BPH-related medical
therapy or had an indwelling urethral catheter due to refractory
urine retention were prospectively enrolled in the
study. All patients were at high risk for surgery and/or anesthesia.
The PAE was performed and the embolising material
used was biosphere 300–500 μm particles. Pre- and 1, 3,
9 months post-intervention, all patients were assessed by
detailed medical history, physical examination, serum prostate-
specific antigen (PSA), uroflowmetry, and abdominal and transrectal ultrasonography. Results: Twenty-two consecutive
patients with a mean age of 72.50 years and a mean
prostate volume of 77.30 ± 14.89 cm 3 were included. The
PAE procedure was successful in all patients. Throughout the
period of follow-up, there was a significant improvement in
the LUTS and urinary flow rate, and reduction in prostate volume
and serum PSA (for all p < 0.001). No major complications
were reported. Conclusion: Our results show that BPH
patients with failed medical treatment who are at high risk
for surgery and/or anesthesia could be treated safely and effectively
through PAE.