[Treatment of infantile varicocele with percutaneous embolization]

Nine boys, aged 11-13 years with left varicocele grade II or III, were treated by percutaneous embolization of internal spermatic vein at the General Yagüe hospital in the last four years. The procedure was performed under local anesthesia. Percutaneous selective retrograde left spermatic venography was done via the right transfemoral vein. For embolization, sclerosing agents were used in eight cases and coil in one. Follow-up ranged from six months to four years. The control clinical examination and ultrasonographic evaluation showed treatment was successful in eight cases (89%) and persistence of a left varicocele in one case (11%). No serious complications were observed and the mean duration of hospital stay was 1.6 days. The safety, efficacy and feasibility of percutaneous embolization are discussed.