BIOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE INTERNAL SPERMATIC VEIN IN THE NORMALPOPULATION AND PATIENTS WITH LEFT-SIDED VARICOCELE TESTIS

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.