Effect of Varicocele Ligation for Patients with Painful Varicocele

Kim, Ji Soo; Min, Seung Ki; Jo, Moon Ki

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of surgical treatment for painful varicocele.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We reviewed the records of 103 patients who had undergone varicocele ligation due to serious pain from January 1996 to December 1999 and followed up for one year. The average patient age was 21 (19-41) years. We analyzed the degree of varicocele, duration and aspects of pain, effects of surgical treatment and results according to surgical techniques. We classified the results into three aspects based on the relief of pain (complete, partial and no relief) and subjective symptoms.
RESULTS
As for the degree of varicocele, 40 cases placed in grade II, and 63 in grade III. The nature of the pain was a sharp ache (33 cases), dragging pain (48 cases) and dull pain (22 cases). There was no statistical significance between the grade of varicocele and the degree of pain (p>0.05). Of the 103 patients, 81 (78.6%) experienced complete relief of pain and 10 (9.7%) had partial relief. Only 12 patients (11.6%) had persistent or worsened symptoms. The results for the postoperative de gree of pain relief according to duration of pain did not show any statistical significance (p>0.05), but those according to preoperative quality of pain showed statistical signi ficance (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
This study supports the conclusion that varicocele ligation is an effective treatment for painful varicocele.