PERCUTANEOUS VARICOCELE OCCLUSION - LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP

PURPOSE: The authors summarize their 11-year experience with percutane ous varicocele occlusion at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. PATIENTS AND M ETHODS: Data were obtained from the patients' medical records and from a mailed questionnaire. Most of the data analysis is based on the 182 patients who responded to the questionnaire. RESULTS: Most of the occ lusion's were performed for infertility. The mean length of time coupl es had been attempting to conceive was approximately 44 months. Occlus ion was technically successful in 95.7% of cases. Patients were follow ed up for a mean period of 59 months. Success is difficult to define b ecause many patients and/or their wives received additional infertilit y treatment. Fifty-seven percent of all couples and 60% of a subgroup of couples who received no other treatment eventually conceived. CONCL USION: Percutaneous occlusion is a well-established treatment for vari coceles. Pregnancy rates and recurrence rates are comparable to those following surgical varicocelectomy. It is unlikely that resultant preg nancies occur from random chance alone.