Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Apr;64(2):215-219.
doi: 10.1111/1754-9485.13001. Epub 2020 Feb 11.

Pain relief after varicocele embolization: The patient's perspective

Mark Sheehan  1 , Hayley Briody  1 , Damien C O'Neill  1 , Dermot Bowden  1 , Niall F Davis  2   3 , Mark Given  1 , Ponnusamy Mohan  2 , Michael J Lee  1   3
Affiliations

Pain relief after varicocele embolization: The patient's perspective

Mark Sheehan et al. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Introduction: Long-term efficacy of treatment with varicocele embolization is poorly documented from the patient's perspective. This study assessed patients' perceived changes in pain scores pre- and post-testicular vein embolization. In addition, the effect of testicular vein embolization on quality of life (QoL) parameters was assessed.

Methods: All patients treated with embolization for varicocele-related orchalgia were analysed (2009-2015). A standardized pain impact questionnaire was used to assess pain scores pre- and post-procedure. The primary outcome was to assess patients' pain relief post-varicocele embolization. The secondary outcome was patients' perceived efficacy of the embolization procedure in terms of improvement in QoL parameters.

Results: Sixty patients underwent varicocele embolization due to persistent orchalgia; of which 44 responded to the questionnaire. The mean pre-procedural pain score was 5.4/10 (range of 1.5-9). Post-procedure questionnaire was performed at a median of 58 months (range 28-106 months). At 1, 6 and 12 months post-procedure, the mean pain score was 1.57, 0.55 and 0.3, respectively. 50% (n = 22) reported complete pain relief 1-month post-embolization while 89% (n = 39) of patients reported complete resolution of pain at 1 year. Among the measured QoL parameters; varicocele embolization resulted in significant improvement in return to work, housework, socializing, exercise, sexual relations, and sleeping post-embolization (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Varicocele embolization results in a durable reduction in pain scores compared to their pre-operative values. Information from this study will allow clinicians to convey the potential improvements in pain parameters to patients undergoing embolization of symptomatic varicoceles.

Keywords: embolization; pain relief; patient perspective; varicocele.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Kantartzi PD, Goulis DC, Goulis GD, Papadimas I. Male infertility and varicocele: myths and reality. Hippokratia 2007; 11: 99-104.
    1. Dogra VS, Gottlieb RH, Oka M, Rubens DJ. Sonography of the scrotum. Radiology 2003; 227: 18-36.
    1. Donkol RH, Salem T. Paternity after varicocelectomy: preoperative sonographic parameters of success. J Ultrasound Med 2007; 26: 593-9.
    1. Leslie SW, Siref LE. Varicocele. [Updated 23 Nov 2018.] In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing, 2018 Jan.
    1. Jargiello T, Drelich Zbroja A, Falkowski A, Sojka M, Pyra K, Szczerbo-Trojanowska M. Endovascular transcatheter embolization of recurrent postsurgical varicocele: anatomic reasons for surgical failure. Acta Radiol 2015; 56: 63.

LinkOut - more resources