Idiopathic Varicocele in Adolescents: Risks of the Inguinal Approach

Abstract Introduction The aim of this study was to evaluate the medium-term results and complications of open inguinal varicocelectomy, including vein ligation, intraoperative venography, and antegrade sclerotherapy. Materials and Methods Sixty-four children were treated between 2000 and 2009 for idiopathic varicocele. Fifty children were examined 6 months after surgery. In 2010, 22 patients were recalled for testicular ultrasound scans (US) to evaluate the medium-term results of the technique. Results The mean age of the children was 12.8 years at first consultation. Of the 50 cases, 35 children were asymptomatic, 13 experienced pain, 3 suffered from discomfort, and 1 had testicular asymmetry. Thirteen children had delayed left testicular growth compared with the right testis. The mean age at surgery was 13.3 years, and follow-up duration was 8.3 months ± 13.9. Thirty-eight patients achieved good results postsurgery; there was varicocele recurrence in 3, testicular hypotrophy in 7, and complete testicular atrophy in 2 patients. Conclusion Naked eye inguinal surgical ligation does not appear to be safe enough to treat young adolescents, with the theoretical risk of a decrease in fertility in the future. In teams which are untrained in microsurgical or laparoscopic varicocelectomy, we suggest referring adolescent patients to a radiologist for embolization.