title: Outcomes of microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy for painful varicoceles.
abstract: We assessed the effectiveness of microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy  for the treatment of painful varicoceles. Patients with painful varicocele (n  = 81) treated by microsurgical varicocelectomy who attended a 1-year follow-up  were retrospectively evaluated. We documented patient age, grade and location  of the varicocele, duration and quality of pain, and response to surgical  therapy. Telephone interviews and chart reviews were conducted to assess  resolution of pain, recurrence of the varicocele, and complications of the  procedure. Of the patients, 29 (35.8%) described the soreness as a sharp pain,  35 (43.2%) as a pulling sensation, and 17 (21%) as a dull pain. The varicocele  was grade III in 62 patients (76.5%) and grade II in 19 (23.5%). After  microsurgical varicocelectomy, 74 patients (91.3%) experienced improvement in  their symptoms: 58 patients (71.6%) experienced a complete resolution of pain  postoperatively, and 16 patients (19.7%) experienced partial resolution. Seven  patients (8.6%) experienced no change. Of the 7 patients with persistent pain,  2 patients had sharp pain, 4 patients had a pulling sensation, and 1  experienced dull pain postoperatively. The resolution of pain was correlated  with preoperative varicocele grade (P = .026) but not with quality of  pain (P = .807). Subinguinal microsurgical varicocele ligation is an  effective treatment for painful varicoceles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Sexual Medical Research Center, 8, Hak-dong, Dong-ku, Gwangju #501-757, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Ouck
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hosuck
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Kwangsung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000009:adverse effects; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000009:adverse effects; D014646:Varicocele / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult