Alessandro Motta1, Giuseppe Caltabiano2, Marco Pizzarelli2, Giovanni Failla3, Dragos Botezatu4, Horia Muresanu4, Pietro Foti5, Sandro La Vignera5, Rosita Condorelli5, Stefano Palmucci5, Antonio Basile5. 1. Department of Interventional Radiology, "ARNAS" Garibaldi Hospital, Maria di Gesù 4, 95100, Catania, CT, Italy. alemotta.doc@gmail.com. 2. Department of Interventional Radiology, "ARNAS" Garibaldi Hospital, Maria di Gesù 4, 95100, Catania, CT, Italy. 3. Diagnostica per Immagini e Radiologia Interventistica, Azienda Ospedaliera per l'Emergenza "Cannizzaro", Via Messina 829, 95126, Catania, CT, Italy. 4. Vasile Goldis Western University, Str. Liviu Rebreanu, nr. 86, Campusul Universitar "Vasile Goldis", Arad, Romania. 5. Department of Radiology and Radiotherapy, Policlinico Universitario Gaspare Rodolico, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele, via Santa Sofia n.29, 95100, Catania, Italy.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Varicocele is a relatively complex pathology that affects the pampiniform plexus of veins in the spermatic cord. Modern treatment involves both urological/surgical and interventional procedures. Our objective is to compare outcomes of conventional laparoscopic ligation (LL) and occluding balloon embolization (OBE) a percutaneous interventional procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We treated retrospectively a total of 98 patients, divided in two cohorts; arm A with 48 and arm B with 50 patients. Arm A patients underwent LL, while arm B ones were treated in interventional radiology suite, via OBE method. No comorbidities were reported, especially scrotal ones. Hence, all patients have been asked to respect 3 and 6 months' follow-up, clinical examination and ultrasonography were performed. Age range of the entire sample: 15-45 years old, with average of 28 years. The study involved two European centers. We performed a comparative analysis (Fisher's test) of intra-operative time, hospitalization and patient's postoperative recovery time. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Outcomes have been in line with the recent literature ones, allowing the occluding balloon embolization a small advantage for quicker operative average time, hospitalization needed and full recovery to normal activities for the patient. Main limitation was the unfeasibility of cost-effectiveness analysis due to national differences, limited sample and lack of complete semen analysis pre- and postoperative. CONCLUSION: Both OBE and LL are safe and effective procedures in the treatment of varicocele, conceding OBE a slight advantage in terms of hospital stay and full recovery to normal activity of patients.
INTRODUCTION: Varicocele is a relatively complex pathology that affects the pampiniform plexus of veins in the spermatic cord. Modern treatment involves both urological/surgical and interventional procedures. Our objective is to compare outcomes of conventional laparoscopic ligation (LL) and occluding balloon embolization (OBE) a percutaneous interventional procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We treated retrospectively a total of 98 patients, divided in two cohorts; arm A with 48 and arm B with 50 patients. Arm A patients underwent LL, while arm B ones were treated in interventional radiology suite, via OBE method. No comorbidities were reported, especially scrotal ones. Hence, all patients have been asked to respect 3 and 6 months' follow-up, clinical examination and ultrasonography were performed. Age range of the entire sample: 15-45 years old, with average of 28 years. The study involved two European centers. We performed a comparative analysis (Fisher's test) of intra-operative time, hospitalization and patient's postoperative recovery time. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Outcomes have been in line with the recent literature ones, allowing the occluding balloon embolization a small advantage for quicker operative average time, hospitalization needed and full recovery to normal activities for the patient. Main limitation was the unfeasibility of cost-effectiveness analysis due to national differences, limited sample and lack of complete semen analysis pre- and postoperative. CONCLUSION: Both OBE and LL are safe and effective procedures in the treatment of varicocele, conceding OBE a slight advantage in terms of hospital stay and full recovery to normal activity of patients.