SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY OF LAPAROSCOPIC VARICOCELECTOMY IN 100 CONSECUTIVE CASES

The purpose of this study is to report the safety and efficiency of la paroscopic varicocelectomy in 100 consecutive patients operated at a s ingle teaching institution. There were three indications: (1) infertil ity associated with oligo-astheno-teratospermia (n = 52); (2) chronic dragging sensation of the left testicle (n = 42), and (3) incidental f inding of a large varicocele in young adolescents (n = 6). In group 1, the postoperative pregnancy rate was 47% and sperm quantity, concentr ation and mobility were significantly increased. The efficiency in pai n control and clinical outcome amounted to 80 and 100% in groups 2 and 3, respectively. Complications were few and minor. There was no intra peritoneal organ or major vessel injury. The mean length of hospital s tay (0.9 days) and median total recovery time (5 days) were remarkably short. In conclusion, laparoscopic varicocelectomy is a safe procedur e. It is as efficient as open spermatic vein ligation, and provides th e patient with a short hospital stay and quick full recovery.