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Percutaneous varicocele occlusion: long-term follow-up
A M Zuckerman1, S E Mitchell, A C Venbrux
1Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Md.
Purpose:
The authors summarize their 11-year experience with percutaneous varicocele occlusion at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Patients And Methods:
Data were obtained from the patients' medical records and from a mailed questionnaire. Most of the data analysis is based on the 182 patients who responded to the questionnaire.
Results:
Most of the occlusions were performed for infertility. The mean length of time couples had been attempting to conceive was approximately 44 months. Occlusion was technically successful in 95.7% of cases. Patients were followed up for a mean period of 59 months. Success is difficult to define because many patients and/or their wives received additional infertility treatment. Fifty-seven percent of all couples and 60% of a subgroup of couples who received no other treatment eventually conceived.
Conclusion:
Percutaneous occlusion is a well-established treatment for varicoceles. Pregnancy rates and recurrence rates are comparable to those following surgical varicocelectomy. It is unlikely that resultant pregnancies occur from random chance alone.