L. Lund et al., BIOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE INTERNAL SPERMATIC VEIN IN THE NORMALPOPULATION AND PATIENTS WITH LEFT-SIDED VARICOCELE TESTIS, European urology, 33(2), 1998, pp. 233-237
Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate a possible decrease
d strength of the wall of the left internal spermatic vein between pat
ients with varicocele testis and controls. Materials: From 14 patients
with varicocele testis, 2 cm of the vein was obtained during operatio
n per varicocele and compared to samples of the left internal spermati
c vein taken from the same anatomical localization of 19 patients with
no varicocele testis or other conditions with relation to the scrotum
; additionally, samples from the right internal spermatic vein similar
to those described above were taken from 12 patients. The biomechanic
al properties of ring-shaped venous specimens were investigated by loa
ding the specimens at a constant deformation rate until rupture, Main
Results: The regression coefficient, standard error and p value reveal
ed no significant differences in ID (diameter), UC (unit collagen/ID),
E-max (ultimate extensibility), Max (maximum strength), Tan-a (maximu
m stiffness), E-fail (relative failure energy). The trend to significa
nce was shown in ID between the varicocele and left-sided veins (p = 0
.05) and between left-and right-sided veins (p = 0.05). Conclusions: T
hese biomechanical tests of the spermatic veins from healthy subjects
and patients operated for varicocele showed that biomechanical differe
nces were associated with age and could play a part in the development
of varicocele testis in an age-matched group.