Background/purpose: The aim of this study was to assess whether percutaneous retrograde endovascular occlusion (PREVO) is effective and safe for the treatment of varicocele in pediatric patients.
Methods: We retrospectively studied 71 children who underwent PREVO for left-sided varicocele. The primary outcome was the proportion of varicocele-free patients 6 months after PREVO as assessed by ultrasonography.
Results: Seventy-one boys with left-sided grade III varicocele underwent PREVO at a mean age of 13.2 years. PREVO was performed under local anesthesia in all boys but 2, who required general anesthesia. The procedure was technically feasible in 68 (96%) patients. In the remaining 3 patients, the internal spermatic vein could not be catheterized. Minor short-term complications occurred in 6 patients and resolved fully. No major complications or deaths were recorded. The proportion of varicocele-free patients 6 months after PREVO was 93% (66/71) overall and 97% (66/68) in the patients whose PREVO procedure was feasible. No clinical recurrence was observed during the mean follow-up of 17.5 months.
Conclusions: Percutaneous retrograde endovascular occlusion is an effective minimally invasive approach for varicocele treatment in pediatric patients. It can be safely performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.