Abstract
Introduction The aim of this study was to evaluate the medium-term results and complications of
open inguinal varicocelectomy, including vein ligation, intraoperative venography,
and antegrade sclerotherapy.
Materials and Methods Sixty-four children were treated between 2000 and 2009 for idiopathic varicocele.
Fifty children were examined 6 months after surgery. In 2010, 22 patients were recalled
for testicular ultrasound scans (US) to evaluate the medium-term results of the technique.
Results The mean age of the children was 12.8 years at first consultation. Of the 50 cases,
35 children were asymptomatic, 13 experienced pain, 3 suffered from discomfort, and
1 had testicular asymmetry. Thirteen children had delayed left testicular growth compared
with the right testis. The mean age at surgery was 13.3 years, and follow-up duration
was 8.3 months ± 13.9. Thirty-eight patients achieved good results postsurgery; there
was varicocele recurrence in 3, testicular hypotrophy in 7, and complete testicular
atrophy in 2 patients.
Conclusion Naked eye inguinal surgical ligation does not appear to be safe enough to treat young
adolescents, with the theoretical risk of a decrease in fertility in the future. In
teams which are untrained in microsurgical or laparoscopic varicocelectomy, we suggest
referring adolescent patients to a radiologist for embolization.
Keywords
varicocele - adolescents - inguinal approach - peroperative phlebography
