Laparoscopic Varicocelectomy

Jeong, Dae Jin; Kim, Chul Sung

Abstract

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic surgery has emerged as an alternative minimally invasive technique as compared to traditional open surgical techniques. We evaluated the efficiency and safety of laparoscopic varicocelectomy for the treatment of varicocele.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between June 1996 and February 1998, laparoscopic varicocelectomywere performed in 10 patients whose ages ranged from 16 to 43 years at Chosun university hospital. We assessed success rate, hospital stay, operative time, and complications retrospectively.
RESULTS
The varicocele was disappeared in all patients after laparoscopic varicocelectomy. The mean operative time was 68 minutes for unilateral varicocelectomy and 110 minutes for bilateral varicocelectomy. The internal spermatic artery was preserved in 9 of 10 patients. The mean hospital stay was 1.9 days. Complications included shoulder pain in 1 patient, cubcutaneous emphysema in 1 patient and pneumoscrotum in 2 patients but resolved with conservative management.
CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that laparoscopic varicocelectomy is an effective, safe and a viable alterative to other operative technique with quick full recovery, short hospital stay, minimal analgesic requirement and minimal surgical trauma. But long-term follow up and prospective studies are needed to clarify the clinical effect of laparoscopic varicocelectomy.