Results of microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy in children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To report our experience with microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy in boys younger than 18 years old.


METHODS
A total of 92 boys with a mean age of 15.8 years (range 11 to 18) underwent microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy because of ipsilateral testicular hypotrophy (n = 63), pain, or parental preference. The varicoceles were grade III in 82 (89.1%) and grade II in 10 (10.9%) boys. Microsurgery was assisted by an operating microscope (10x to 25x) and Doppler probe. All boys were discharged home on the same day of surgery.


RESULTS
Of the 92 patients, 78 attended the initial postoperative visit at 1 month and 61 attended the 1-year follow-up visit. At 1 year, 40 (65.6%) of 61 testes demonstrated catch-up growth, with no evidence of testicular loss or persistent hypotrophy in the other 21. The only complication was persistent scrotal pain in 1 patient. At 1 year of follow-up, 1 patient (1.6%) had a recurrence and no patients had hydrocele formation or evidence of testicular loss or persistent hypotrophy.


CONCLUSIONS
Microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive treatment modality in children and adolescents.
Yaman
Onder
O
Department of Urology, University of Ankara Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Soygur
Tarkan
T
Zumrutbas
Ali E
AE
Resorlu
Berkan
B
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007264:Inguinal Canal; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D014646:Varicocele / Q000601:surgery*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods