title: Varicocele embolization with glue and coils: A single center experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare metallic coils and glue (n-butyl-2 cyanoacrylate) for varicocele embolization, regarding immediate technical and clinical success, procedure time, complications and recurrence rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of varicocele embolization procedures performed between July 2012 and July 2015 was undertaken. A total of 129 procedures were performed, 26 using glue (20.2%; 26 men with a mean age of 32.6 years) and 103 using coils (79.8%; 103 men with a mean age of 32.3 years). Demographic data, indications, technique, procedure time, complications and outcomes were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 89 procedures (69%) were motivated by infertility (glue=20, coils=69) and 40 (31%) by testicular pain (glue=6, coils=34). The mean procedure time was 35.58±13.44 (SD) min for glue and 45.97±17.46 (SD) min for coils (P=0.0054). Immediate technical success rate was 100% using glue and 99% using coils (P=1.0000). A single minor complication was observed after coil embolization (0.97%). Both materials showed significant improvement of semen parameters, with similar clinical success rates. For patients referred for testicular pain, clinical success rate was 66.67% using glue and 88.24% using coils (P=0.2147). Recurrence rate was 11.54% with glue and 5.83% with coils (P=0.4000). Procedure time was significantly shorter with glue (P=0.0054).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glue and coils are both safe and effective for varicocele embolization. However, the use of glue yields shorter procedure time.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Imagem Médica, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Praceta Mota Pinto, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: carlosbilreiro@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bilreiro
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Imagem Médica, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Praceta Mota Pinto, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Donato
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Imagem Médica, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Praceta Mota Pinto, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Imagem Médica, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Praceta Mota Pinto, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agostinho
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Imagem Médica, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Praceta Mota Pinto, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carvalheiro
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Imagem Médica, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Praceta Mota Pinto, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caseiro-Alves
keywords: Glue; Male infertility; Metallic coil; Percutaneous embolization; Varicocele