RESULTS OF A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF 150 P ATIENTS WITH VARICOCELE REPAIR

Testicular varicocele is the most common cause of treatable male infer tility. The therapeutic success of surgical and nonsurgical varicocele repair has been under controversial discussion. The results of 150 pa tients who underwent varicocele repair between 1990 and 1992 were eval uated with regard to the preoperative indication: sub-/infertility, sc rotal pain or discomfort and testicular atrophy. Two methods, the Bern ardi operation (15 pts.) and the percutaneous retrograde sclerotherapy (135 pts.) were compaired including therapeutical results and expendi ture. OAT-syndrome (50%) represents the most common indication for tre atment, followed by pain or discomfort (34%) and testicular atrophy (2 6%). Improvement in sperm quality could be achieved in 64%. Pregnancy was achieved in 8 cases. Freedom of pain was achieved in 60% of the su rgically and nonsurgically treated patients. Persistence of varicocele occurred in 30% of the operated patients and 9% of those patients who had received sclerotherapy. In 19% of the patients sclerotherapy was not feasible.