Laparoscopic varicocelectomy now the gold standard procedure for varicocele - A comparative study with open technique based on our experience

Background: The link between varicocele and infertility was first reported by cessius in 1st century AD but it was not widely acknowledged until TULLOCH and colleagues reported the improvement of sperm parameters in 26 of 30 patients undergoing varicocelectomy. Varicocele is defined as excessive dilatation of pampiniform venous plexus of spermatic cord. varicocele is an important cause infertility which can be corrected by surgery. Several methods have been used for its treatment including open surgical ligation of spermatic veins as well as laparoscopic varicocelectomy. Open varicocelectomy has more risk of recurrence and complications whereas laparoscopic varicocelectomy is simple, has less risk of recurrence and complication in expert hands. Objectives: To compare Laparoscopic varicocelectomy with open varicocelectomy, in terms of post-operative pain, recurrence rate, hospital stay, cost, cosmetic and complication. To prove hospital stay was more in open group than laparoscopic group and also patient of laparoscopic group return to normal activities earlier than open group. To standardize the laparoscopic varicocelectomy procedure for varicocele. Materials and methods: It was a randomized clinical trial done in Department of General Surgery, Vinayaka Mission Medical College, Karaikal. Study was carried out from 1st March, 2015 to 1st March, 2016. A total 70 patients was taken in our study of its 36 patient undergone open varicocelectomy and 34 patient undergone laparoscopic varicocelectomy. Results: Recurrence rate 0% in Laparoscopic Varicocelectomy and 5.6% in open varicocelectomy. Wound complication was 0% in Laparoscopic varicocelectomy and 2.5% in open varicocelectomy. Post-operative pain was more in open group as compared to laparoscopic varicocelectomy. Laparoscopic varicocelectomy has less post-operative morbidity and early return to normal activity. Also there was improvement in seminal analysis in both groups. Conclusion: We would like to standardize laparoscopic varicocoelectomy and make it as a gold standard for Varicocele by replacing open technique provided there is good experienced surgical team and good instrumentation. Cost of the procedure is comparatively high.