Should primary microsurgical ligation of varicocele be the gold standard approach?

Abstract

Introduction: Varicocele is a common condition affecting over one in 10 men, and in cases with abnormal semen parameters, varicocele is present in about one in four men. Several methods have been used to treat this condition, of which microsurgical treatment has the lowest failure and complication rates. We present a single-centre UK series of microsurgical repair of varicocele. Methods: All microsurgical varicocelectomy cases performed between 2013 and 2017 were retrospectively identified and reviewed. The approach used is low inguinal using a high-powered Leica microscope. Results: Microsurgical varicocele repairs were performed in 30 cases, with a median age of 34.7 years. There were 22 cases with chronic scrotal pain of which eight cases had failed previous embolisation with a success rate of 90.5%. There were eight with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, showing an improvement of more than 75% in sperm count after repair. Conclusions: Microsurgical ligation is a very effective treatment for symptomatic varicoceles and should be considered when radiological embolisation has failed. It is also effective in improving semen parameters in all followed up oligoasthenoteratozoospermia cases. It should be considered a primary method of varicocele treatment in the UK. Level of evidence: 3.