Prostate Artery Embolisation as a Palliative Care in a Patient with Prostate Cancer: A Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Prostate artery embolization is an emerging technique, that appears to be a promising option in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia for patients unsuitable for surgery. Prostate artery embolization, similar to all other interventions, is not a suitable treatment for all patients with this disease. It is indicated as a minimally invasive option in patients unfit to undergo trans urethral resection of prostate. Case Report: A 78-year-old male suffering from castrate resistant prostate cancer and on treatment with Abiraterone plus prednisolone presented to the Uro-oncological services of the hospital with difficulty to void, incomplete voiding, and sense of incomplete voiding. He had other medical co-morbidities which included Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ischaemic heart disease. His cardiac ejection fraction was 25% and was advised not to undergo any surgical procedure. Serum creatinine on admission was 2.2 mg% and serum PSA were 26.5 ng/ml. Under local anaesthesia, using retrograde Seldinger’s technique right common femoral arterial access was obtained and 6F vascular introducer sheath was placed. Bilateral pelvic angiogram was performed, each of the prostatic arteries was superselectively catheterized and the prostatic gland was embolized using PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) particles 200m. Post catheter removal the patient voided well with a maximum flow of 14.5 ml/sec. Conclusion: Prostate artery embolization can successfully treat complications associated with prostate cancer such as LUTS, urinary retention and haematuria with a low risk of serious adverse events.