[Comparison of 3 microsurgical approaches to the treatment of varicocele: report of 120 cases].

OBJECTIVE:To compare the outcomes of the three microsurgical strategies, inguinal high ligation (IHL), retroperitoneal high ligation (RHL) and low ligation (LL) of internal spermatic veins, in the treatment of varicocele. METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed 120 cases of varicocele, which were equally divided into groups I , II and III to be treated by IHL, RHL and LL of internal spermatic veins, respectively. We compared the operation times, post-operative complications, recurrence rates and results of pre- and post-operation semen analysis among the three groups. RESULTS:The mean operation time was significantly longer in group III ( [55 +/- 6 ] min) than in I ([35 +/- 10] min) and II ([42 +/- 12] min) (P<0.05), while the rate of post-operative complications remarkably higher in group I (4 cases of hydrocele [10% ] and 3 cases of epididymitis [7.5%]) than in II (2 cases of hydrocele [5%] and 2 cases of epididymitis [5%]) and III (1 case of hydrocele [2.5%] and 1 case of epididymitis [2.5%]) (P<0.05). Six to 12 (mean 9) months of follow-up visit found 2 cases (5% ) of recurrence in group I, 1 case (2.5%) in group II and none in group III, with no statistically significant difference among the three groups (P>0.05). At 12 months after surgery, group III showed significantly higher sperm concentration, grade a +b sperm and the sperm motility than the other two (P<0.05), but no significant differences were observed in these parameters among the three groups preoperatively. CONCLUSION:As a microsurgical approach to the treatment of varicocele, LL is better than IHL and RHL of internal spermatic veins in improving the seminal parameters of the patients.