Kansas City Prostate Center
Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) in Kansas City & Independence, MO
Missouri’s dedicated resource for enlarged prostate (BPH) treatment. Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) is a non-surgical alternative to TURP that relieves urinary symptoms with a faster recovery — performed by the board-certified specialists at MIVA Medical.
A 10-page guide covering BPH symptoms, treatment comparisons, and what to expect — yours to keep.
What Is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland — the most common prostate condition in men over 50. It’s seen in roughly 50% of men over age 50 and as many as 70% of men over 70.
The prostate sits just below the bladder, wrapped around the urethra. As it enlarges with age, it can squeeze the urethra and obstruct urine flow, leading to a range of lifestyle-limiting urinary symptoms.
Common Symptoms of BPH
- Weak urine stream
- Frequent urination, day and night
- Urinary urgency
- Difficulty starting a urine stream
- Dribbling at the end of urination
- Urinary retention in severe cases
Comparing Your BPH Treatment Options
BPH treatment ranges from conservative lifestyle changes to surgery. Here’s how the main paths compare:
| Option | Invasiveness | Hospital Stay? | Sexual/Urinary Function Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medication | None | No | Possible side effects, often temporary |
| PAE | Minimally invasive, no incision | No | Low — function typically preserved |
| TURP (surgery) | Surgical, through the penis | Often yes | Higher risk of incontinence, sexual dysfunction |
| Open Prostatectomy | Major surgery | Yes | Highest risk of complications |
PAE was added to the American Urologic Association guidelines as an acceptable treatment strategy for symptomatic BPH — offering meaningful relief without the surgical risks of TURP.
How Is PAE Performed?
PAE is a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks the prostate by reducing its blood supply, rather than removing or cutting tissue. A small puncture is made at the wrist or groin — no incision through the penis — and a tiny catheter is guided to the arteries feeding the prostate using X-ray imaging. Microscopic particles are then injected to reduce blood flow, causing the gland to shrink over the following weeks.
PAE is performed on an outpatient basis at MIVA Medical using conscious sedation, typically taking 1–2 hours with about an hour of recovery before discharge.
Unlike TURP and other surgical options, PAE has been shown to preserve sexual and urinary function in the large majority of patients, since there’s no surgical instrumentation through the urethra.
Meet the MIVA Medical Doctors
Dr. Travis Brown, MIVA Medical’s Director of Men’s Health, primarily performs prostate artery embolization (PAE) and was among the first in Kansas City to offer it. Dr. Silas Williams, Director of Women’s Health, shares hemorrhoid, knee, and kyphoplasty procedures with Dr. Brown. Your initial consultation is typically with Maddie Fennessey, our Nurse Practitioner, who works closely with both doctors to build your care plan — a physician consultation can also be requested based on availability.
Dr. Travis Brown
Dr. Silas Williams
Please note: MIVA Medical does not perform diagnostic imaging in-house. Imaging is completed at an outside imaging center prior to treatment.
Serving Men Across the Kansas City Metro
MIVA Medical’s Independence, MO clinic provides PAE for men throughout the greater Kansas City area, including Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit, Grain Valley, Raytown, Overland Park, and Kansas City, MO & KS.
Looking for a prostate specialist in Lee’s Summit? Patients from Lee’s Summit choose MIVA Medical for PAE because their Independence, MO clinic keeps consultation and treatment personal and close to home.
Enlarged prostate treatment in Blue Springs, MO is one of the most common referral areas — if urinary symptoms have been affecting daily life, MIVA Medical can evaluate whether PAE is right for you.
Considering PAE in Overland Park? Many Overland Park and Johnson County patients travel to MIVA Medical specifically for their non-surgical, insurance-covered approach to BPH.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the current treatment options for an enlarged prostate?
Options range from lifestyle modification and medication management (alpha-blockers, PD-5 inhibitors, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors) to minimally invasive procedures like PAE, up through surgical options such as TURP and open prostatectomy.
What is prostate artery embolization (PAE)?
PAE is a minimally invasive procedure that targets and diminishes blood flow to the prostate gland, causing it to shrink. A tiny catheter is navigated into the prostate’s feeder arteries via the wrist or groin, and microscopic particles are injected to reduce blood flow. Most patients are discharged within an hour.
How does PAE differ from surgery like TURP?
PAE offers a lower risk of complications, no surgical access through the penis, no expected hospitalization, and a faster recovery time compared to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
What is recovery like after PAE?
Most patients experience mild pelvic pain, fatigue, or low-grade fever for a few days, peaking around day 3 and improving with time. Strenuous activity should be avoided for 5 days. Follow-up includes a one-week clinic visit and a 3-month imaging follow-up.
Will PAE affect my sexual function?
Unlike TURP and other surgical options, PAE has been shown to preserve sexual and urinary function in the large majority of patients, since there’s no surgical instrumentation through the urethra.
Is PAE covered by insurance?
Yes. PAE is recognized as an acceptable treatment option for symptomatic BPH, and most insurance carriers cover it.
Where can I find PAE treatment near Kansas City?
PAE is performed at MIVA Medical’s Independence, MO clinic, serving patients throughout the greater Kansas City metro. Book a consultation or take the PAE quiz to see if you’re a candidate.
Related Reading
Preparing for Your PAE Consultation
What to bring and questions worth asking.
What Happens to PSA Levels After PAE?
Understanding PSA changes after treatment.
Supporting a wife, partner, or loved one dealing with uterine fibroids? Visit How to Prepare for Your First UFE Consultation on our sister site, Kansas City Fibroid Center, for a closer look at UFE and what to expect.
Powered by MIVA Medical
Kansas City Prostate Center is a dedicated educational resource from MIVA Medical, Kansas City’s interventional radiology clinic. Beyond PAE, MIVA Medical also treats several other conditions with minimally invasive, non-surgical procedures:
Uterine Fibroids (UFE)
Knee Pain (GAE)
Hemorrhoids (HAE)
Varicocele
Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
Spinal Compression Fracture
Visit the Full PAE Page on MIVA-Medical.com
Here on behalf of a wife, partner, or someone you care about? Visit our sister site, Kansas City Fibroid Center, dedicated to uterine fibroid symptoms and treatment →
