title: Modified antegrade scrotal sclerotherapy in adolescent patients with varicocele.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the tolerability, safety, and efficacy of a modified antegrade scrotal sclerotherapy in the treatment of varicocele in adolescent patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1998 to 2001, 45 consecutive adolescent patients (average age, 15.26 +/- 1.29; range, 13 to 17 years) underwent modified antegrade scrotal sclerotherapy for varicocele at the authors' department. All patients were evaluated pre- and postoperatively by physical examination and color Doppler ultrasonography of spermatic cords and testis. All treatments were performed under local anaesthesia by a single surgeon. Complication and reflux persistence rates were assessed 6 and 12 months after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean operating time was 15 minutes. No patient required general anaesthesia during the treatment. No intraoperative complication was recorded, and all patients were discharged within 4 hours. The patients returned to normal school activity within 48 hours. No complication was observed during the follow-up. Six and 12 months after surgery, only 1 patient had a reflux persistence (2.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modified antegrade scrotal sclerotherapy was well tolerated in our adolescent patients under local anesthesia. The procedure is simple, rapid, safe, and effective. The possibility to perform this treatment under local anesthesia decreases the hospitalization time and allows the rapid return to school activity in this particular category of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ficarra
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarti
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Novara
authors.forename: Orietta
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dalpiaz
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galfano
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cavalleri
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Artibani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015911:Sclerotherapy; D013085:Spermatic Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013737:Testis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014646:Varicocele / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*