Safety and efficiency of laparoscopic varicocelectomy in one hundred consecutive cases

The purpose of this study is to report the safety and efficiency of laparoscopic varicocelectomy in 100 consecutive patients operated at a single teaching institution. There were three indications: (1) infertility associated with oligo-astheno-teratospermia (n = 52); (2) chronic dragging sensation of the left testicle (n = 42), and (3) incidental finding of a large varicocele in young adolescents (n = 6). In group 1, the postoperative pregnancy rate was 47% and sperm quantity, concentration and mobility were significantly increased. The efficiency in pain control and clinical outcome amounted to 80 and 100% in groups 2 and 3, respectively. Complications were few and minor. There was no intraperitoneal organ or major vessel injury. The mean length of hospital stay (0.9 days) and median total recovery time (5 days) were remarkably short. In conclusion, laparoscopic varicocelectomy is a safe procedure. It is as efficient as open spermatic vein ligation, and provides the patient with a short hospital stay and quick full recovery.