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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Grade III Varicocele Surgical Treatment using Spermatic Vein-Superficial Abdominal Vein Shunt
Published on: August 23, 2024
Surgery is inadvisable: massive varicocele due to portal hypertension
Heinrich Schulte-Baukloh1, Jörg Kämmer, Rainer Felfe
1Department of Urology, St. Hedwig Hospital, Teaching Hospital of University Hospital Charité, Berlin, Germany. hschultebaukloh@hotmail.com
Abstract:
The pathophysiology of idiopathic varicoceles as a dilatation of the pampiniform venous plexus has been traced to anatomical and embryological development, but is still unclear. Right or non-decompressible lesions are worrisome for retroperitoneal pathology, such as renal cell carcinoma, hydronephrosis, abdominal neoplasm or fibrosis. As a very rare finding we describe a patient who presented with an exorbitant left sided varicocele due to portal hypertension. We were well advised to avoid surgery.
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