title: Ultrasonic predictors of improved seminal parameters after bilateral laparoscopic varicocelectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effect of varicocelectomy on semen parameters of varicocele with low-grade reflux and low testicular vein diameter is poorly documented. Our study aimed at determining whether preoperative venous diameter and grade of reflux predict semen parameters improvement after varicocelectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 85 patients undergoing bilateral laparoscopic varicocelectomy (BLV). Follow-up was performed at 3 and 6 months after surgery. We surveyed the correlation between semen parameters improvement and testicular vein diameter at the inferior pole of the testis, and the degree of reflux measured by color Doppler ultrasound (CDU).
  
  
  RESULTS
  BLV resulted in a statistically significant increase in semen analysis parameters (p = 0.00). There was a correlation between testicular vein diameter and the improvement index in sperm motility (r = 0.31, p = 0.006). There was a significant correlation between the degree of reflux detected by CDU and improvement index in sperm concentration (r = 0.37, p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with testicular vein diameter >2.5 mm and higher grades of reflux detected at the veins at the lower pole of the testis had higher improvement index after BLV. Therefore, we can select the patients with these criteria for BLV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Dr. Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Darab
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mehraban
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taghdiri
authors.forename: Shahriar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nategh
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmadzadeh
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ranjbarnovin
authors.forename: Amir Pejman
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Hashemi Taheri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013085:Spermatic Cord / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*; D014646:Varicocele / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D014680:Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult