[Laparoscopic surgery in varicocele: description of the technique and preliminary data]

The aim of this work is to remark the scientific worth of the laparoscopic approach in patients with varicocele. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From March 1993 to December of the same year 15 patients suffering from varicocele have been treated with a laparoscopic procedure. The technique is widely described in the next pages. RESULTS: Twelve patients have completed the 3 months follow-up whereas five among them have reached the 6 months control. The results are really interesting specially under a functional point of view. DISCUSSION: The noninvasive advantages provided by laparoscopy are always important, but is the worth of the results we have obtained under a functional point of view and the success in inducing pregnancy in some patients that lead us to remark the utility of this procedure comparing it, with the therapeutic proposals nowadays performed. They are: traditional surgery according to Ivanissevich or Palomo procedures percutaneous transvenous embolization under radiological guide varicocele vein ligation under local anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic varicocelectomy represents according to us and some other authors a proposal with a better response if compared to traditional surgery, specially under a functional aspect. Under a costs-benefits evaluation it may be considered more convenient than the radiological approach.