INTRAOPERATIVE SPERMATIC VENOGRAPHY RECONSIDERED

We review our most recent experience with varicocelectomy and post-lig ation venography in 58 adolescents as followup to our previously repor ted series. A single injection venogram confirmed the completeness of varicocele ligation in 82% of cases while 2 or more injections were re quired in the remainder. Venography was not performed in 8 cases becau se of technical difficulties in 5 or surgeon choice in 3. The recurren ce rate was 8.6% and was not statistically significant whether or not venography was performed (p = 0.86). Although intraoperative spermatic venography is technically simple and safe, in our series its efficacy in diminishing the recurrence rate after varicocelectomy was unproved .