Review of current varicocelectomy techniques and their outcomes.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: • To review all the various techniques and their results and efficiencies to provide practicing urologists with some guidance for choice of technique • To discuss improvements of varicocelectomy techniques in the last 15 years and their impact on results of surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: • A PubMed English literature review of literature from 1995 to present. RESULTS: • Pregnancy rates were highest with microsurgical subinguinal technique • Varicocele recurrence rates were lowest with microsurgical subinguinal technique • Hydrocele formation rates were lowest with microsurgical inguinal technique • Surgical complications were highest in the laparoscopic technique • Varicocelectomy by itself or in conjunction with IVF is cost effective CONCLUSIONS: • Microsurgical subinguinal or microsurgical inguinal techniques offer best outcomes • Varicocelectomy is a cost effective treatment modality for infertility • Further research is needed to explore new developments in varicocelectomy.