The Role of Inguinal Varicocelectomy in the Treatment of Varicoceles

Introduction: Varicocele is a physical abnormality in men commonly seen between puberty and 40 years of age. Most are bilateral but when it occurs unilaterally, it’s mostly left sided.

Varicocele can lead to failure of testicular growth, scrotal pain, scrotal swelling and infertility. Diagnosis can be done clinically or radiologically.

Treatment of varicoceles can be by open varicocelectomy, laparoscopic varicocelectomy or radiological embolisation. This study aims at looking at the outcome of open inguinal varicocelectomy amongst patients treated for varicocele during the study period.

Methodology: A retrospective study of patients who had inguinal varicocelectomy on account of varicoceles at Lily Hospitals Limited, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria between April, 2020 and May, 2021. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0 and results reported in percentages, mean ± standard deviation.

Results: A total of 23 patients had inguinal varicocelectomy during the study period with mean age of 29.74 ± 11.37. The commonest presentation was scrotal pain (73.9%) with bilateral varicocele accounting for 82.6% of the cases seen.

Scrotal Doppler ultrasound scan was diagnostic for varicoceles in all the patients treated. Following surgery, there were complete resolution of symptoms in all symptomatic patients with 100% pregnancy rate in those that presented with male factor infertility; no complication was recorded during the follow up period.

Conclusion: Inguinal varicocelectomy is an effective treatment modality for varicoceles with excellent post operative outcomes when done for patients that met the indications for surgical treatment.