Due to its high incidence and its affecting male infertility, varicocele is an important disease. Consequently, it is essential to choose the best treatment.
Materials and methods: Since 1999 to 2000, 75 patients affected by varicocele (mean age 25 years) underwent percutaneous retrograde sclerotherapy through a right transfemoral approach. Pre-operative tests included physical examination, sperm analysis and colour Doppler sonography. According to Dubin and Amelar classification, 59% of patients were affected by Grade 3 varicocele. According to Hirsh classification, grade III-IV varicocele was diagnosed with colour Doppler sonography in 77.3% of patients. Mean operative time was 30 minutes with only 5 minutes of exposure to radiation. All patients were followed-up with colour Doppler ultrasound and sperm analysis 1, 4 and 12 months after the treatment.
Results: In 6 of 75 patients (8%) sclerotherapy was unsuccessful because it was not possible to catheterize the spermatic vein. No significant complications were observed pre and post-operatively. 3 patients complained of mild testicular pain and 1 case had a transient hydrocele. The patients were dismissed during the next 24 hours after the procedure. During follow-up, physical examination was unremarkable in all patients, while occlusion of spermatic veins showed by Doppler ultrasound at 4 and 12 months was achieved in 94% of patients.
Conclusions: Retrograde sclerotherapy through trans-femoral approach is a safe and effective treatment. In our opinion it should be considered as the treatment of choice, especially if we consider the costs, hospitalization and complications of conventional surgery and laparoscopy.