I have been trying to decide whether it best I have PAE or Urolift to help with my BPH symptoms (60g prostate, urinary retention, nocturia) I had almost decided on PAE after reading so many positive reviews, but now I am concerned about the levels of radiation, because over the past 10 years i have had countless CT's (about 30) due to various health issues.
I have been unable to find the exact amount of radiation involved with PAE, but I believe the procedure is done with fluoroscopy which takes in excess of 2 hours, in addition to the initial angiogram.
A standard chest CT is 7mSv, and I have read that a lengthy fluoroscope is in excess of 50 mSv. For a 2 hour+ procedure, it may well be much more than 50mSv I would imagine. That is a lot of radiation!
Anyone care to comment on the radiation risks or otherwise of PAE?
Like you I'm trying to decide between the two. My insurance company has already pre-approved me for Urolift (for a cost of around $8000). They told me PAE has been FDA approved, and will get back to me soon about whether or not they'll cover PAE.
Dan
Mal7896,
i would speak peak to a Radiologist who performs PAE to get a definitive answer to your question. Speculation here would be just that. I can tell you that I had a PAE in April and it has been the most positive life changing thing I have ever done. Unfortunately I can not tell you what was going on during the procedure. It did take about two hours, was painless, but I was in the twilight zone during the procedure. I was awake so I am told, but not aware of anything happening or of the time involved.
I had a Urolift 4 months ago and I am fine. The first week was the worst. There was a guy on here Chuck had a pae and it did not work cost of $10.000. Ended up have the urolift Much better and he is happy with it. Ken
Kenneth,
There are many people on here and other forums that had bad results with UroLift as well. There are also many who had great results with both PAE and Urolift. Please stop quoting that there is ONE guy on here that had trouble with PAE every time someone posts on the forum. You are doing a disservice to those seeking information. Please respond with your own positive results with Urolift as I have with PAE. If someone who had bad results with any procedure wants to respond that's Ok and it gives others the information they need to make informed decisions.
There is bad and good with all procedure. I talk to chuck all the time on the phone. He did have a bad time with PAE and it was alot of money. All is good with the urolift that he had. All I am saying is that not all procedures work for everyone. Before you try anything you need all the information you can get and trust in your doctor that he is doing good by you. Ken PS. I only talk to one guy but there are many.
Hello Dan. I just had my first visit with a new Urologist. I am considering a Urolift only because it is covered by my insurance company (Aetna). But I prefer the idea of a PAE procedure FIRST because it attacks the real issue of our prostate problems in the first place, and that is a swollen prostate. But when I called Aetna a couple of months ago they could not find the code numbers for PAE or have even heard of the procedure. I live in Southern New Jersey. You mentioned that PAE has been FDA approved. Where do you live, in the USA or another country? I am scheduled Sept 11th for a Urolift Cystoscopy test in preperation for a possible Urolift. I will follow the process for Urolift but would love to hear any inurance info or approval from PAE from you before I actually go forward with the Urolift. Any help or info would be greatly appriciated. Thanks. Peter
I'm in the UK, but am an American on medical insurance policy based in the US. My contact at the insurance company told me PAE was FDA approved, but he might have been mistaken. He'll let me know next week, supposedly, if they'd cover it.
However, I think I'm now leaning toward Urolift in any case. There are two good studies done showing its efficacy and durability. I'm not aware of any such completed studies for PAE. PAE studies are taking place right now, in the US, UK, etc. That, of course, is because it's newer. Per one study: "At one month after treatment, 86% of UroLift patients would recommend the procedure to a friend or relative whereas only 73% of TURP patients would recommend the procedure." Having said that, if PAE were offered conveniently nearby and covered, I might try it.
If you want, I could send you my request for "pre-determination" for Urolift to my company, which they approved. Just send me a private email (click on the envelope).
Dan
What's PAE...sorry I don't know. Brian
Prostate Artey Embolization. If you do a search there is heaps about it on the forums
I have emailed the Doctor who performs PAE here, asking if he can advise (in mSv's)
Thanks for your info Dan. I have a pretty good insurance plan with Aetna. When I called them Friday to confirm coverage for Urolift they clearly specified that it is covered and that I do not need a referral or pre-certification. So I'm good there. Will procede with a few tests first before I make my final okay as to whether I will have this done or not. I just would have prefered PAE and didn't want to have 4 pins inbedded into my uretha and then find a year down the road that PAE is finally covered by insurance. My Urologist says that the pins cannot be removed. He has snipped the heads off to perform a TURP for someone who apparently had Urolift but wasn't helped by Urolift. So he can snip the pin heads off but the pin themselves remain forever. Man, it would be nice to be 17 years old again!
Peter...I'm scheduled for the PSA with Dr. Bagla at the Inova hospital, Alexandria, VA. The procedure is approved by Blue Cross. To my knowledge, other locations such as Northwestern in Chicago and UNC, Charlotte are still in clinical trial. I believe the difference may be an FDA approved robotic guided catheter that the Inova hospitals have invested capital $ acquiring. Good luck with your procedure or with contacting Dr. Sandeep Bagla.
UNC Chapel Hill is in clinical trial still where the procedure is free if you qualify, but they are also doing PAE outside of the trial. I had mine done as part of the trial 5 months ago and the results have been amazing.
Mal,
i spoke with the radiologist who performed my PAE this morning. A fluoroscope is used, but is not on for the whole procedure. Risks from accumulated radiation are minimal for an adult. Radiation is most intense when dye contrast is inserted, but the levels are much lower the rest of the time.
Hi Peter,
From reading these forums PAE seems to be a preferable procedure to urolift both in terms of outcomes and long term side effects. I also have Aetna and so far they have denied it. I think it is just a matter of time until they cover it but we may be a bit too early. (I'm not sure when it was approved by FDA). I'm probably going to go forward with the PAE without coverage.
Thanks Mal. An exact amount would be very helpful!
Havent had a reply yet, but when I do will let you know
Michael, I spoke to the office girl of Dr. Bagla many months ago. Helpful but didn't believe my insurance would cover PAE. I will keep turning over all rocks until I say yes to Urolift or PAE. Thanks for info on UNC, Charlotte.
Arlington, I agree with you about prefering PAE and a matter of time before it is covered. The office lady from Dr. Bagla in Alexandria, VA said if interested in coming down for the procedure I should have about $12,000 in my back pocket. Uh, not today, lol. I wish you success in you quest for prostate relief!