Abstract

Aim: Surgical treatment of varicocele is controversial in prepubertal boys: Open approach (microscopy assisted or not) and laparoscopic techniques are surgical methods used for its management. The aim of the study is to compare the outcomes of microscopic and laparoscopic varicocelectomies.

Material and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated two groups of patients who received treatment for varicocele between 2003 and 2015. Group 1 included patients who underwent laparoscopic varicocele ligation (LVL) and Group 2 included patients who underwent microscopic varicocelectomy (MV). We compared both groups as for operative time, outcomes and complications. Fisher’s exact test, Mann-Whitney U test and independent samples t test were used for statistical analysis.

Results: We identified a total of 43 patient (median age, 13.2 years) in two groups (Group 1; n=30 and Group 2; n=13 patients). Varicoceles were detected on the left side in 40 patients and right side in 3 cases. There was no difference between groups in terms of age, laterality, and grade of varicocele at presentation. Median operative time in Groups 1 and 2 were 55 min (35-70 min) and 50 min (40-80 min), respectively. Scrotal hematoma was seen in one case in the MV group, and hydrocele in 3 cases in the LVL group. Postoperative loss in testicular volume was detected in 3 cases in Group 1 and 1 case in Group 2. There was no postoperative wound infection or recurrence in both groups. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of outcomes and complications.

Conclusion: Although longer operative time, higher rates of hydrocele, postoperatively decreased testicular volume were seen in the LVL group, there was no statistically significant difference between groups. The findings of our study demonstrated that both procedures were effective options in the correction of varicoceles in preadolescent and adolescent patients.