[Clinical outcome of microsurgical varicocelectomy done for pain]

Surgical ligation for varicocele is primarily used in the management of male infertility patients. However, effectiveness of the ligation for painful varicocele is still controversial. We reviewed record s from 18 patients (average age 17.8 years) who underwent varicocele ligation done for pain at our institution from June 1999 to May 2010. The varicocele was on the left side and was grade III in 15 cases and grade II in 3 cases. The pain was classified into three types ; discomfort, dull pain and sharp pain. Microsurgical varicocelectomy was done with inguinal or subinguinal approach. Evaluation of postoperative pain was available in 17 patients, and 15 patients (88%) reported complete resolution of the pain with averaged follow up duration of 11 months (3 to 53 months). We concluded that microsurgical varicocelectomy using the inguinal or subinguinal approach was an effective treatment modality for varicocele-associated pain.