Comparative analysis of three different surgical approaches to varicocelectomy / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare three different surgical approaches to varicocelectomy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-eight cases of varicocelectomy performed in our hospital between January 2006 and January 2008 were divided into an retroperitoneal high ligation group (n = 44), a laparoscopy group (n = 12) and a microsurgery group (n = 32), and retrospectively analyzed for postoperative semen quality, recurrence, early complications, hospital stay, and medical cost.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rates of semen quality improvement were 56.52% (13/23), 66.67% (4/6) and 78.26% (18/23) , the rates of recurrence were 25% (8/32), 22.22% (2/9) and 7.41% (2/27), and the medical costs were RMB yen (1984 +/- 126), (8576 +/- 547) and (2159 +/- 298), respectively, in the retroperitoneal high ligation, laparoscopy and microsurgery groups (P < 0.05). None experienced serious early complications.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Microsurgery is obviously superior to retroperitoneal high ligation and laparoscopic approaches in improving semen quality and preventing postoperative recurrence, and, with its advantages of minor invasiveness and quick recovery, is preferred by most patients. Laparoscopy, however, ranks highest in medical cost.</p>