title: Long-term results of microsurgical drainage for idiopathic varicocele.
abstract: The long-term results of microsurgical shunts for idiopathic varicocele are reported in the present paper. Sixty-two patients with a total of 65 varicoceles (three were bilateral) were followed up for 1 to 8 years. Pre- and postoperative ultrasonographic evaluation of varicocele size was considered of great importance in order to reduce the bias of subjective clinical diagnosis and to achieve a reliable and objective follow-up. Microsurgical shunts were tailored to the type of reflux: renospermatic (76.9%), iliospermatic (10.8%) or mixed type (12.3%), 94% of patients experienced a complete morphologic disappearance of varicosities, while in 6% of the cases a consistent reduction of size was objectified although varicosities were still detectable at ultrasonographic examination. In patients with severe infertility a significant increase of seminal parameters was observed postoperatively and this improvement showed a higher statistical significance in patients aged < 30 years.
authors.affiliation: Ospedale Israelitico di Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Flati
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Talarico
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Flati
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: La Pinta
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Porowska
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Proposito
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carboni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004322:Drainage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D013076:Sperm Count; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014646:Varicocele / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*