Varicocelectomy for male infertility: a comparative study of open, laparoscopic and microsurgical approaches

Abstract

Purpose: We compared the outcomes of 3 techniques of varicocelectomy in infertile patients with varicocele.

Materials and methods: The study included 298 infertile patients (446 varicoceles) who were randomized to varicocelectomy by an open inguinal technique in 92, laparoscopy in 94 and subinguinal microsurgery in 112. The 3 techniques were compared regarding intraoperative, and early and late postoperative parameters, changes in semen parameters and the pregnancy rate. Patients were followed a +/- mean +/- SD of 21 +/- 9 months (range 4 to 35).

Results: Operative time was significantly longer in the microscopic group. Early postoperative complications were comparable in the 3 groups. At followup none of the patients in the microsurgical group had hydrocele, while it was observed in 4 of 143 (2.8%) in the open group and in 8 of 148 (5.4%) in the laparoscopy group, representing a significance difference in favor of microsurgery. The incidence of recurrent varicocele was significantly lower in the microsurgical group than in the open and laparoscopy groups (4 of 155 patients or 2.6% vs 16 of 143 or 11% and 25 of 148 or 17%, respectively). Compared to preoperative values in the 3 groups postoperative semen parameters showed significant improvement in sperm concentration, motility and morphology. The incidence of patients with improved sperm count and motility was significantly higher in the microsurgical group. The pregnancy rate at 1 year was not significantly different among the 3 groups.

Conclusions: Compared with open and laparoscopic varicocele treatment microsurgical varicocelectomy has the advantages of no hydrocele formation, a lower incidence of recurrent varicocele, and better improvement in sperm count and motility.