Is it important to measure the internal spermatic vein diameter after varicocelectomy? A self-controlled trial.

To analyse spermatic vein parameters and post-varicocelectomy diagnostic ultrasound methods by comparing pre- and post-operative ultrasound parameters and semen quality in patients undergoing varicocelectomy. Ultrasound and semen analyses were performed within 1 week before surgery and 3 months after surgery in 125 patients who underwent varicocelectomy for infertility. Patients were divided into three groups according to the post-operative internal diameter of the spermatic vein and reflux: recovery, dilatation, and reflux. Changes in semen quality before and after surgery were compared between groups. Sperm concentration, motility, and morphology were significantly improved (p < 0.05); however, semen volume did not improve (p > 0.05) in patients in the recovery and dilatation groups compared to those in patients before surgery. Sperm concentration, motility, and semen volume did not improve in patients in the reflux group compared with those in patients before surgery (p > 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the internal diameter of the spermatic vein and reflux duration were risk factors for post-operative spermatic vein dilatation without reflux. Ultrasonography after varicocelectomy should primarily be used to observe reflux, and should not be used as a diagnostic criterion for varicocele based on the internal diameter of the spermatic vein alone.

Characteristics and risk factor analysis of 410 cases of tracheobronchial tuberculosis.

The present study analyzed the characteristics and risk factors associated with tracheobronchial tuberculosis (TBTB) in 410 patients with TBTB. Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical features, bronchoscopy performance, bacteriological examination, imaging and treatment of 410 patients who were diagnosed with TBTB using bronchoscopy. Among the 410 patients, 10 patients underwent chest X-ray which revealed two cases of atelectasis, eight cases of patch or spot shadows, three cases of cavity, one case of nodule and one case with no abnormalities. The remaining 400 patients underwent computed tomography chest scans and/or airway reconstruction examinations. Among all the lesion types, the cavity type was found to be the most likely to cause bronchial stenosis or obstruction, with statistically significant differences when compared with the congestion, stenosis or scar lesion types (P<0.01). Moreover, for the cavity type, there were 194 sites of obstruction prior to therapy; however, only 23 sites of obstruction remained following therapy. Furthermore, there were 34 sites without stenosis prior to therapy and 205 sites without stenosis following therapy. The number of sites of obstruction was significantly decreased and the number of sites without stenosis was increased upon therapy. These findings suggest that the cavity type is the most sensitive type to therapy among the five types of TBTB lesion.