[Treatment of varicocele in pediatric age with retroperitoneoscopic ''one trochar'' technique. Long term follow-up].
OBJECTIVE
The incidence of varicocele varies from 6% to 16.2% in male children and adolescents. Various techniques were proposed to treat it. In the last years there was an increasing interest in the use of laparoscopy in pediatric urology. The authors reports their experience in the treatment of varicocele by retroperitoneoscopy with one trocar technique and the long-term follow-up in pediatric patients.


METHODS
Fourty patients were treated for idiopathic Horner's degree III or less, but symptomatic, and type 1 according to Coolsaet varicocele. All patients underwent a clinical examination and echo-color Doppler before treatment and during the follow-up.


RESULTS
The following parameters were evaluated: duration of the operation, intra and postoperative complications, duration of hospitalization and of antalgic therapy. Follow-up was at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months (mean 23.4 months). Testicles diameters, persistence/recurrence of varicocele and hydroceles were estimated.


CONCLUSIONS
The retroperitoneoscopic approach in the treatment of varicocele is an effective technique because it implies a minor surgical trauma, a rapid postoperative recovery and a good cosmetic result.
Messina
M
M
Sezione di Chirurgia Pediatrica, Dipartimento di Pediatria,Ostetricia e Medicina della Riproduzione, Scuola di Specializzazione in Chirurgia Pediatrica, Siena, Italy. messinam@unisi.it
Zagordo
L
L
Garzi
A
A
Cerigioni
E
E
Di Maggio
G
G
Roggi
A
A
Abate
V
V
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004867:Equipment Design; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020706:Laparoscopes; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014646:Varicocele / Q000601:surgery*