Abstract
Objective: To assess the efficacy of percutaneous retrogradevaricocele embolisation using Spirale tungsten coils over aperiod of five years. Patients and methods: Fifty consecutivepatients underwent local anaesthetic day case varicocele embolisationvia a right femoral approach. Venous anatomy was identified andclassified. Morbidity and recurrence were recorded at three monthclinical follow up. Results: The procedure was technicallysuccessful in 94% of the patients. The varicocele recurred in16%, the majority of whom had complex venous anatomy. 8% of thepatients complained of discomfort at follow up. Conclusions:Although the coils used in this study have been withdrawn, a hightechnical success rate is described with failure being predominantlydue to complex venous anatomy.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Oster J. Varicocele in children and adolescents. Scand J Urol Nephrol 1971; 5: 27
Clarke BG. Incidence of varicocele in normal men and among men of different ages. J Am Med Assoc 1966; 198: 21
Mottrie AM, Matani Y, Baert J et al. Antegrade scrotal sclero-therapy for the treatment of varicocele in childhood and adolescence. B J Urol 1995; 76: 21–24
Lund L, Jensen KM-E. Management of recurrent varicocele testis.B J Urol 1997; 79: 471–472
Tauber R, Johnsen N. Die antegrade skrotale Verodung zur Behandlung der Testisvarikozele. Urologe A 1993; 32: 320–326
Tauber R, Johnsen N. Antegrade scrotal sclerotherapy for the treatment of varicocele: technique and late results.B J Urol 1994; 151: 386–390
Wegner HEH, Meier T, Miller K. Testicular necrosis after antegrade sclerotherapy of varicocele.Int Urol Nephrol 1996; 28: 357–358
Lima SS, Castro MP, Costa OF. A new method for treatment of varicocele. Andrologia 1978; 10: 103–106
Bahren W, Lenz M, Porst H, Wierschuin W. Neben-wirkungen komplikationen und kontraindikationen der perku-tanen sklerotherapie der v spermatica interna zur Behandlung der idiopathischen Varikozele. Rofo Fortschr Rontgenstr 1983; 138: 172–179
Hargreave TB. Varicocele – A clinical enigma. B J Urol 1993; 72: 401–408
Goldstein M. In Walsh PC, Retik AB, Darracott Vaughn E, Wein AJ eds. Campbells Urology. Philadelphia: B Saunders, 1998: 1370–1371
Lukkarinen O, Hellstrom P, Leinonen S, Juntunen K.Is varicocele treatment useful. Ann Chir Gynae 1997; 86: 40–44
Lenz M, Hof N, Kersting-Sommerhoff B, Bautz W. Radiology 1996; 198: 425–431
Sigmund G, Bahren W, Gall H et al. Idiopathic varicoceles: feasibility of pecutaneous sclerotherapy. Radiology 1987; 164: 161–168
Marsmann JM. The aberrantly fed varicocele: frequency, venographic appearance and results of transcatheter emboliza-tion. Am J Roentgen 1995; 164: 649–657
Punekar SV, Pre AR, Ridhorkar VR et al. Post-surgical recur-rent varicocele: efficacy of internal spermatic venography and steel coil embolisation. B J Urol 1996; 77: 124–128
Shlansky-Goldberg R, Van Arsdalen KN, Rutter CM et al. Percutaneous varicocele embolization versus surgical ligation for the treatment of infertility: changes in seminal parameters and pregnancy outcomes.J Vasc Intervent Radiol 1997; 8: 759–767
Cowan N. Varicocele embolisation. Urology News 1998; 6: 7–8
Feneley MR, Pal MK, Nockler IB, Hendry WF. Retrograde embolization and causes of failure in the primary treatment of varicocele. B J Urol 1997; 80: 642–646
White RI, Kaufmann SL, Barth KH et al. Occlusion of varico-celes with detachable balloons. Radiology 1981; 139–327
Morag B, Rubenstein ZJ, Goldwasser B et al. Percutaneous venography and occlusion in the management of spermatic varicoceles. Am J Roentgeneol 1984; 143: 635–640
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Keoghane, S., Jones, L., Wright, M. et al. Percutaneous retrograde varicocele embolisation using tungsten embolisation coils: A five year audit. Int Urol Nephrol 33, 517–519 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019598109594
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019598109594