[Quality of life in endoscopic treatment of varicocele]

A total of 46 patients with varicocele aged 15-28 years (mean age 17.1 +/- 1.3 years) were operated endoscopically by means of ligation of the internal seminal vein from an open gas-free mini-approach. The intervention was on the left side (n = 45) and right side (n = 1). Varicocele of the first, second and third degree was diagnosed in 2 (4.3 +/- 3.0%), 35 (76.0 +/- 6.3%) and 9 (19.6 +/- 5.9%) patients, respectively. There were no conversions. Duration of the operation was 28.4 +/- 2.7 min. Early after surgery anesthesia with ketorolac trometamine (2.1 +/- 1.1 injections, on the average) was made in 37 (80.4 +/- 5.9%) patients. Seven (15.2 +/- 5.3%) patients refused anesthesia. Control examination was made on day 7. Hydrocele developed in one case (2.2 +/- 2.2%). It was managed conservatively. A mean length of the scar was 2.8 +/- 0.34 cm. The second postoperative examination was conducted 6.7 +/- 1.6 months after the first one. The recurrence arose in one patient (2.1 +/- 2.1%). The patient was reoperated from an open mini-approach. A mean level of pain syndrome was 1.8 +/- 0.5 points. It had no influence on the patients' condition. On postoperative day 3-5 the patients were discharged. Thus, good quality of life in use of the proposed endoscopic operation of ligation of the internal seminal vein from an open gas-free approach makes this surgery an operation of choice in surgical treatment of varicocele.