[Single-port laparoscopic ligation with suture silk for varicocele: a report of 20 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effect of single-port laparoscopic ligation (SPLL) with suture silk for the management of varicocele. METHODS: We analyzed the clinical effects of SPLL with suture silk in the treatment of 20 cases of varicocele, and compared them with those of conventional three-port laparoscopic ligation (TPLL) for another 24 varicocele patients. RESULTS: All the operations were successful. The operation time was 20-35 (mean 28) minutes and the hospital stay was 2 days for SPLL, as compared with 15-28 (mean 20) minutes and 3 days for TPLL. The cure rate was 75% for the former, and 67% for the latter, with no signification difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: SPLL with suture silk for the treatment of varicocele has more advantages over TPLL for minimal invasiveness, faster recovery, and less scarring and extraneous residual.