Incidence and clinical significance of arterial injury in varicocele repair.
OBJECTIVE
• This study was performed to histologically determine the rate of arterial injury in varicocele ligation surgery and to determine the clinical significance of these arterial injuries.


METHODS
• 41 men who underwent varicocele ligation surgery, and had segments of each ligated vessel examined histologically. • The patients were followed prospectively to determine the effect of arterial injury on surgical results and clinical complications.


RESULTS
• Arterial ligation was identified in 6 of 41 patients (12%), and in 7 of 132 specimens (5%), which is higher than previous reports. • Arterial injury was not associated with testicular atrophy and there was no apparent effect of arterial injury on surgical outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
• The rate of arterial injury during varicocele repair is higher than previously reported, but the clinical significance of these injuries appears to be limited.
Tripler Army Medical Center, Urology Section, Honolulu, HI 96859-5000, USA.
Scott P
SP
Cuda
John E
JE
Musser
Christina M
CM
Belnap
Gregory P
GP
Thibault
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013085:Spermatic Cord / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D014646:Varicocele / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D057772:Vascular System Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult