Traffic on some streets in New York has become so bad that some healthy people have to see their doctors for minor surgery to help reduce the urge to urinate.
Traffic conditions in New York become increasingly difficult as summer arrives because people often want to go on vacation. Many people choose to vacation in their outbuildings, sometimes up to 160 km away from the main house. This leaves many of the city’s wealthiest people, especially the elderly, with bladder problems as there are few places to stop on hour-long trips.
To combat “prolapsed bladder,” New York’s wealthy turned to a specialized medical procedure: prostatic artery embolization (PAE), which reduces the frequency of urination.
“A lot of people have this problem. They go to the Hamptons and have to stop four or five times along the way, but can’t find a toilet,” said Dr. David Shusterman, a urologist in New York City.
Dr. David Shusterman
Shusterman said the number of patients seeking PAE procedures spiked by 20% this spring.
“May came and suddenly people were more interested in PAE. When they’re in the car with a bunch of people, it’s embarrassing because they have to go to the bathroom for hours,” Shusterman said.
Dr. Shusterman said he has performed about 10 PAE procedures per week for the past few months. He also shared that about half of men between the ages of 50 and 60 have an enlarged prostate, which makes going to the bathroom more frequent and urgent.
Many New Yorkers struggle for hours in traffic jams while traveling in the summer
The PAE procedure lasts an hour, and recovery is usually quick and painless. Patients can go home the same day with few side effects.
In the US, PAE may be covered by insurance. However, some uninsured patients may have to pay up to $20,000 (~ VND 467 million) per surgery.
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