Does the number of veins ligated during microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy impact improvement in pain post-surgery?

Background: We examined the impact of the number of veins ligated during varicocelectomy on postsurgical improvement of pain in a group of men presenting with clinical varicocele and pain as an indication for surgery. Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients presenting with clinical left v...

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Published in:Translational Andrology and Urology
Main Author: Elbardisi H.; Agarwal A.; Majzoub A.; Al Said S.; Alnawasra H.; Khalafalla K.; Al Rumaihi K.; Al Ansari A.; Durairaganayagam D.; Arafa M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AME Publishing Company 2017
Online Access:https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85018989136&doi=10.21037%2ftau.2017.03.56&partnerID=40&md5=48318355d386e264cf5d3c8dda479f85
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Summary:Background: We examined the impact of the number of veins ligated during varicocelectomy on postsurgical improvement of pain in a group of men presenting with clinical varicocele and pain as an indication for surgery. Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients presenting with clinical left varicocele to the male infertility unit at a teaching hospital in Qatar. Files of all patients who underwent sub-inguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy were retrieved and categorized into three groups indicating the number of spermatic veins ligated during varicocelectomy. The presence of pain was assessed during pre- and post-operation (at 3 and 6 months). Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis test (K) and Chi-square test (C). Results: Out of 675 records, 207 (30.7%) patients did left varicocelectomy for pain. Their mean age was 35.3±9.2 years. Pain was assessed in 106/207 (51.2%) patients post operatively, of whom 89 (84%) reported complete resolution of symptoms. This improvement was maintained irrespective of the number of veins ligated during surgery (< 5 veins: 90.0%, 5-10 veins: 81.5%, and > 10 veins: 85.7%). Conclusions: Microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy is a valid treatment method for patients with a symptomatic clinical varicocele. While a significant post-surgical (at 6 months) reduction of pain was detected, the number of veins ligated intraoperatively was not predictive of post-operative improvement of pain in this study population. © Translational Andrology and Urology. All rights reserved.
ISSN:22234683
DOI:10.21037/tau.2017.03.56