Prostate artery EmbolisAtion Safety and efficacY: Preliminary and foLlow-Up urodynamic Studies (P-EASY PLUS).

Objective: To assess the efficacy of prostate artery embolisation (PAE) in the management of obstructive benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by conducting formal urodynamic studies.

Methods: Patients with symptomatic BPH underwent baseline assessments, including urodynamic evaluation, followed by PAE. Follow-up International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS), Quality of Life questionnaire (QoL) scores, prostate volume and urodynamic variables were assessed at a mean follow-up of 18 months.

Results: A total of 105 patients underwent PAE, with average final follow-up at 18 months. Prostate volumes reduced by a mean of 30.6% and significant improvements were identified across all IPSS parameters (total IPPS decreased by 55%; P < 0.001), QoL scores (improved by 65.9%; P < 0.001), maximum urinary flow rate (increased by 5 mL/s; P < 0.001), postvoid residual urine volume (decreased by 24%; P = 0.049), detrusor pressure (decreased from 65.0 to 48.9 cmH₂O; P < 0.001) and bladder obstruction rates. Bladder obstruction decreased from 66.7% to 29.8% of patients following embolisation. Results were found to be positively correlated to the absolute amount of embolic material injected during the embolisation procedure. PAE was well tolerated, with expected post-embolisation symptoms resolving completely after a mean (sd; range) of 7 (±5; 1-28) days. There were no major procedural complications, no reported urinary incontinence, and new retrograde ejaculation occurred in 2%.

Conclusion: In this study, PAE resulted in statistically significant improvements by both subjective and objective measures, including symptom severity, quality of life and urodynamic parameters. Whilst longer-term studies are required, these findings support PAE as a non-surgical option within the treatment algorithm for managing symptomatic, obstructive BPH.