On Thursday, February 22, for the first time at Horacio Oduber Hospital, two Prostate Artery Embolizations (PAEs) were performed thanks to the cooperation between the interventional radiologists Mijntje van den Oever from HOH and Sytse Oudkerk from Link2Care Clinics in the Netherlands.
The advantage of this treatment for patients with urinary problems is the short duration of the procedure, which takes place during a one-day admission and is performed without the need for anesthesia. The patient can return home within four (4) hours. In addition to this, it is important to mention that the chance of complications is smaller compared to the regular prostate operation (TURP).
At least one in every three men over the age of 50 suffers from urinary problems. Among men, urinary problems can have different causes, but most of the time, it is due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). An enlarged prostate puts pressure on the so-called ‘urethra’ and causes problems with urination. The use of pills only helps in treating the symptoms but does not address the original cause.
Urologist at HOH, Randall Leong, states, “The PAE treatment is a tremendous addition to the well-known TURP operation for patients who cannot undergo anesthesia or have a permanent bladder catheter.”
Sytse Oudkerk, interventional radiologist at Link2Care Clinics in the Netherlands, adds, “In the United States and other European countries, this PAE treatment has been performed for many years. In Portugal, with Professor Pisco, the pioneer of this innovative treatment, I learned this procedure and introduced it in 2022 in the Netherlands at our specialized clinic in Bilthoven – Utrecht.”
Interventional radiologist at HOH, Mijntje van den Oever, expresses, “Thanks to the collaboration between HOH and Link2Care Clinics, we want to make this innovative and important treatment available for men with urinary problems in Aruba and soon for other islands in the region.”
Jacco Vroegop, Chairman of the Board of Directors at HOH, concludes, “Horacio Oduber Hospital in Aruba is synonymous with innovation, quality, and service. With the introduction of this treatment, we further expand our medical care services, which have significant value for many male patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). I am extremely proud that we are the first hospital in the Dutch Caribbean region to provide this PAE treatment. Another tremendous step forward for our team at HOH!”
