Long-term results of microsurgical drainage for idiopathic varicocele

• Published in: International urology and nephrology Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 63 - 69
• Main Authors: Flati, G, Talarico, C, Flati, D, La Pinta, M, Porowska, B, Proposito, D, Carboni, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 1997
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Drainage; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Microsurgery; Sperm Count; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography; Varicocele - diagnostic imaging; Varicocele - surgery
• ISSN: 0301-1623; 1573-2584
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02551419

The long-term results of microsurgical shunts for idiopathic varicocele are reported in the present paper. Sixty-two patients with a total of 65 varicoceles (three were bilateral) were followed up for 1 to 8 years. Pre- and postoperative ultrasonographic evaluation of varicocele size was considered of great importance in order to reduce the bias of subjective clinical diagnosis and to achieve a reliable and objective follow-up. Microsurgical shunts were tailored to the type of reflux: renospermatic (76.9%), iliospermatic (10.8%) or mixed type (12.3%), 94% of patients experienced a complete morphologic disappearance of varicosities, while in 6% of the cases a consistent reduction of size was objectified although varicosities were still detectable at ultrasonographic examination. In patients with severe infertility a significant increase of seminal parameters was observed postoperatively and this improvement showed a higher statistical significance in patients aged < 30 years.