Results and complications of laparoscopic surgery for pediatric varicocele

• Published in: Journal of pediatric surgery 2001-05, Vol.36 (5), p.767-769
• Main Authors: Esposito, C., Monguzzi, G., Gonzalez-Sabin, M.A., Rubino, R., Montinaro, L., Papparella, A., Esposito, G., Settimi, A., Mastroianni, L., Zamparelli, M., Sacco, R., Amici, G., Damiano, R., Innaro, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Arteries - surgery; Biological and medical sciences; Child; complications; Emphysema - etiology; Follow-Up Studies; Granuloma - etiology; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; laparoscopy; Laparoscopy - adverse effects; Laparoscopy - methods; Ligation - adverse effects; Ligation - methods; Male; Male genital diseases; Medical sciences; Non tumoral diseases; Phlebography; Recurrence; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the genital tract and mammary gland; Testicular Hydrocele - etiology; Testis - blood supply; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Varicocele; Varicocele - diagnosis; Varicocele - surgery; Veins - surgery
• ISSN: 0022-3468; 1531-5037
• DOI: 10.1053/jpsu.2001.22956

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results and complications of laparoscopic varicocelectomy in children. Methods: Over a 36-month period, 211 children underwent laparoscopic treatment of varicocele. Their ages ranged between 6 and 17 years; the varicocele was located on the left side in 209 cases (99.1%) and was bilateral in 2 (0.9%). In 195 patients the laparoscopic transperitoneal approach was used and in 16 retroperitoneoscopy was used. Thirty children (14.2%) underwent ligation of the veins alone, and 181 (85.8%) underwent ligation of testicular veins and artery. In 15 (7.1%) cases an additional procedure was applied during the same operation. Results: Average operating time was 30 minutes and hospitalization about 24 hours. At an average follow-up of 26 months, there were 19 (9%) postoperative complications: 14 children had a left hydrocele, 3 children a scrotal emphysema, and 2 an umbilical granuloma. There were 5 recurrences of varicocele in our series: 2 (2 of 30, 6.6%) after the Ivanissevitch procedure, and 3 (3 of 181, 1.6%) after Palomo's. Testicular atrophy did not occur in any patient of this series. Conclusions: This preliminary experience shows that the results of the laparoscopic approach are comparable to those of the open approach. The ligation of testicular veins and artery is preferable to the ligation of the testicular veins alone. Hydrocele seems to be the most frequent postoperative complication and a potential problem, especially in children operated on with the Palomo procedure. J Pediatr Surg 36:767-769. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.