Varicocele surgery is usually indicated when men experience medication-free testicular pain, in case of infertility when low testosterone levels are detected in plasma. Not all men with varicocele require surgery, however, most have no symptoms and maintain normal fertility.
Surgical correction of a varicocele leads to improved sperm parameters, increasing the total amount of moving sperm and reducing oxygen-free radical levels, resulting in better sperm function.
- There are several surgical techniques for treating a varicocele; however.
- Open inguinal and subguinal surgery is the most commonly used due to the high success rate and minimal complications that can occur.
- Learn how to identify varicocele symptoms.
Open surgery, although technically more difficult to perform, usually results in better results in varicocele healing in adults and adolescents and minimal complications, with less relapse and lower risk of complications. In addition, the surgical procedure is associated with medium-level spontaneous kisses of the highest level compared to other techniques.
This technique is performed under local anesthesia and allows the identification and preservation of the testicular artery and lymph vessels, which is important to prevent testicular atrophy and the formation of a hydrocele. Learn how to treat hydrocele.
Laparoscopy is more invasive and complex compared to other techniques, as damage to the artery and lymph vessels are the complications associated with this technique, however, it has the advantage of treating bilateral varicocele at the same time.
Despite allowing a greater extension compared to other techniques, cremastera veins, which can contribute to the recurrence of varicocele, in this case cannot be treated with this technique, other drawbacks include the need for general anesthesia, the presence of a surgeon with the skill and experience of laparoscopy and the high costs of surgery.
Percutaneous embolization is performed on an outpatient basis, under local anesthesia, so it is associated with faster and less painful recovery, this technique presents no risk of hydrocele formation, although it does not interfere with lymph vessels, however, it presents some drawbacks, such as radiation exposure and high costs.
This procedure aims to disrupt blood flow to the vein of the enlarged testicle, for this purpose an English incision is made, from which a catheter is inserted into the dilated vein, then embolization particles that block blood flow are injected.
Generally, varicocele treatment significantly improves sperm concentration, movement and morphology, improving seminal parameters about three months after surgery.
After surgery, the patient can usually return home the same day, if they need to be careful, how to avoid exerting activities in the first few months of surgery, make a change of treatment, and use pain relievers according to medical opinion. .
The return to work should be valued during control consultations with the then surgery urologist; However, sexual activity may resume after 7 days.