FrankTalk.org

Hello to all.

I am truly considering venous embolization of the peri prostatic plexus- I know the long term success rate is not the best, but it might help in two ways - 1.) might help me to relay on pills and further delay an implant
2.) might help with engorgement when getting an implant.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24613267

I do not want to "close" veins directly in the penis, like the deep dorsal vein (DDV) or superficial dorsal vein (SDV), this might lead to complications while doing an implant. (e.g. therefore no sclerotherapy with dr. herwig either)

Unfortunately I did not find a interventional radiologist who performs the cited work - I already contacted the author of the study with no success. Does anyone of you guys know one who performs the work ?

I need to preface that my reply is based solely on my own experience. I can't swear that this procedure isn't done in other places outside the NIH.

As you noted, this is a study done by the NIH. The NIH is a unique hospital in so many ways... one of which being that a patient can't merely show up at an ER and be admitted, or go through an NIH doctor out of the blue and be examined and then admitted. Admission is done by referral of another specialist (or specialists) who has/have been treating and collecting data on a patient.

My NIH admission in January 1993 was based on 16 years of data collected by my neuropsychopharmacologist regarding a probable pituitary tumor. He was also the head of the Depression Research Unit at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. His submission on me also included findings from my endocrinologist during those 16 years.

I'll admit that the neurosurgeon who was heading up the study wasn't the only one performing the surgery I was hoping for from him (Transsphenoidal Pituitary Adenomectomy.) I believe there were two others total in the country, both having studied under my surgeon at the NIH. In like manner, there may be others performing the methods described in the study you've attached here.

My theory was... "Why go to students of the man who pioneered the procedure when I can see the man himself?" I was in the NIH for 2 months, driving home to Pennsylvania on most weekends; an experimental diagnostic was performed on me (Petrosal Sinus Sampling); and finally neurosurgery with 9 months of follow up.

All this is to say that if I were considering the procedure you've posted, I'd probably seek out a Urologist/surgeon within a well known teaching hospital and make it known from the start that I was seriously considering this procedure. Hopefully, with his/her test results, they'd be able to refer you to either another who does the procedure or to the NIH study.

One thing to keep in mind is that if this is an experimental procedure, insurance companies aren't likely to cover it. But you probably know that the NIH doesn't charge for any of its services IF you can get in.