Blood Gas Analysis of the Spermatic Vein and Antecubital Vein in the Patients with Bilateral Varicocele / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

Varicocele remains an important correctable cause of infertility. There are many theories of the mechanism about the cause of infertility, yet pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Several investigators have found no alterations in oxygen or carbon dioxide pressures in spermatic venous blood in varicocele patients. We checked blood gas of the left, right internal spermatic vein, and antecubital vein of 21 patients with clinical varicocele. The mean of carbon dioxide pressure in the left (43.5mmHg) and the right (44.3mmHg) internal spermatic vein was not higher than antecubital vein (47.8mmHg) (p<0.05). The mean oxygen pressure in the left internal spermatic vein (60.5 mmHg) was not lower than antecubital vein (42.5mmHg)and the mean oxygen pressure in the left internal spermatic vein was higher than right internal spermatic vein (50.9 mmHg). Both Leydig cell and germinal cell dysfunction caused by testicular hypoxia secondary to venous stasis and small-vessel occlusion must be reestablished.