Microsurgical varicocelectomy with transfixing of the difficult-to-isolate periarterial vein using microsutures

To address difficulty in isolating the adhered periarterial vein in microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy, we introduced the transfixing microsuture method as well as to evaluate the impact of this technical modification on the surgical success of varicocele repair.

We retrospectively evaluated 4 patients with a mean age of 31.5 years who underwent subinguinal varicocelectomy with transfixion of the difficult-to-isolate periarterial vein (a 9-0 transfixing microsuture was placed transversely through the periarterial vein as near to the adjacent border between the testicular artery and adherent vein as possible; then, it was knotted to nick or completely ligate the lumen.) The incidence of recurrence or persistence, postoperative hydrocele formation, sperm improvement, and symptom release was analyzed.

In 4 cases, the periarterial vein transfixing procedures were performed with a mean follow-up of 6 months. No postoperative recurrence or hydrocele was identified postoperatively. One patient reported no symptom improvement, but there was significant improvement in the symptoms and/or semen parameters in the other 3 patients. Postoperative ultrasonography evaluation revealed that there was no postoperative varicocele recurrence or persistence, no hydrocele formation, and no testicular atrophy.

When the adhered periarterial vein is difficult to isolate and ligate, transfixing the vein with a microsuture in microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy is a viable compromise that reduces the incidence of postoperative recurrence or persistence without serious complications.