New Procedure Could Provide Relief For Men Suffering From An Enlarged Prostate
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Men don't often talk about it, but most will eventually experience an enlarged prostate, which can be a major quality of life issue.
As CBS2's Dr. Max Gomez explained, a new way to shrink the prostate has been borrowed from women.
For years women have been able to shrink fibroids by having the blood supply to the uterus blocked off in a minimally invasive procedure.
It's been adapted to treat benign enlargement of the prostate called BPH, and will make some men's lives a lot more comfortable.
Doctors say if most men live long enough, their prostate gland will eventually enlarge and cause symptoms that are familiar to many.
"I was waking up often and even if I wasn't asleep, I would have to go the bathroom often. And in the daytime you can't really concentrate on anything because you spend most of your days and nights in the bathroom," W.L. Rivers said.
Most men with an enlarged prostate are treated with medications. When that doesn't work or results in side effects there is surgery to either cauterize or lase the prostate. It is very successful, but comes with risks and limitations.
"It can affect fertility which may be important for younger men with BPH, and there tend to be upper size limits for the minimally invasive therapies," Dr. John DeMeritt, Hackensack University Hospital said.
There are also patients like W.L who have medical conditions that make them poor surgical risks.
A new study found that it is possible to safely shrink the prostate by blocking blood flow.
Dr. DeMerritt uses very thin catheters to do it.
They are threaded through the arteries in the groin to reach the blood vessel that feeds the prostate on each side.
Tiny particles are injected to block the artery, and the procedure is repeated on the other side.
"When we cut off the blood supply to the prostate, the prostate shrinks slowly over time and alleviates the obstruction to urine flow," Dr. DeMeritt explained.
Some men even see immediate relief.
"I don't have to rush to the bathroom, and in fact, now I'm sleeping great. I seldom wake up to go to the bathroom," Rivers said.
The prostate embolization as it's called isn't a first line option, that's still medication.
It's a technically challenging procedure for doctors to perform, but they are working on ways to make it easier.
The only restriction is if the prostate is very, very large. Surgery is still needed.
