Background: Microsurgical varicocele repair has become the gold standard in adults and only a few reports are available in children and adolescents. We present our experience with this method and concentrate on the technical performance, complications and development of testicular size.
Methods and results: 47 patients aged 11 to 18 years (x15.4) underwent microsurgical subinguinal repair for varicocele grade II.-III. Operation was indicated because of hypoplastic testicle (expressed by the atrophy index > 25%), pain, large varicocele or parents preference. The patients were examined clinically, by ultrasound including the Doppler study; hormonal examination was added using the gonadoreline stimulation test. Microscope has been used to identify the internal spermatic artery, to dissect the artery from the complex of small surrounding veins and to identify the lymphatic vessels. We found 3 recurrences in 46 patients (6%) operated for primary varicocele. The atrophy index decreased from x19.7 to 12.7%, without any association with pubertal stage. Atrophy of the testis was not found in any patient. Hydrocele was detected in one patient (2.1%), and left testicular hypertrophy also in one patient (2.1%).
Conclusions: Microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy is a safe and efficacious method in children and adolescents; using the microscopic dissection, the internal spermatic artery and accompanying lymphatic vessels are safely spared.