Pain experience during internal spermatic vein embolization for varicocele: comparison of two cyanoacrylate glues

Eur Radiol. 2006 Jan;16(1):132-6. doi: 10.1007/s00330-005-2840-8. Epub 2005 Jul 6.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate possible pain sensation differences in patients after retrograde varicocele embolization either with n-butyl-(2)-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) or with n-butyl-(2)-cyanoacrylate + methacryloxysulfolane (NBCA-MS). Transcatheter varicocele embolization was performed in 64 consecutive patients (62 left, two bilateral). Embolization was done with NBCA (n=32) or NBCA-MS (n=32). Immediately after the procedure, patients were asked to evaluate pain during embolization using a visual analog scale (VAS). Statistical analysis was done with Student's t test. Mean pain score on VAS was 3.23 (range: 0-8) for NBCA and 3.28 (range 0-9) for NBCA-MS. This difference was not significant (P=0.932). Independently of the type of glue, no difference in pain sensation (P value 0.421) was found between patients younger than 18 (n=29) and patients older than 18 years of age (n=35) (younger than18, mean 3.52; older than 18, mean 3.05). No difference in mean pain experience level (P=0.323) was seen in 11 patients with vessel wall perforation (23.4%) during the procedure (3.89; range: 0-8.5) in comparison with those without perforation (mean pain sensation level: 3.13; range: 0-9). No difference in pain experience was found after transcatheter varicocele embolization either with NBCA or NBCA-MS. Age and vessel wall perforation have no influence on pain sensation independently of the type of glue.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Child
  • Cyanoacrylates / adverse effects*
  • Cyanoacrylates / therapeutic use
  • Embolization, Therapeutic / adverse effects*
  • Embolization, Therapeutic / methods
  • Enbucrilate
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain / etiology*
  • Pain Measurement / methods
  • Prospective Studies
  • Spermatic Cord / blood supply*
  • Varicocele / therapy*

Substances

  • Cyanoacrylates
  • Enbucrilate