Subinguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy vs. percutaneous embolization in infertile men: Prospective comparison of reproductive and functional outcomes

Does Varicocele Repair Improve Conventional Semen Parameters? A Meta-Analytic Study of Before-After Data

PURPOSE

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to study the impact of varicocele repair in the largest cohort of infertile males with clinical varicocele by including all available studies, with no language restrictions, comparing intra-person conventional semen parameters before and after the repair of varicoceles.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The meta-analysis was performed according to PRISMA-P and MOOSE guidelines. A systematic search was performed in Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases. Eligible studies were selected according to the PICOS model (Population: infertile male patients with clinical varicocele; Intervention: varicocele repair; Comparison: intra-person before-after varicocele repair; Outcome: conventional semen parameters; Study type: randomized controlled trials [RCTs], observational and case-control studies).

RESULTS

Out of 1,632 screened abstracts, 351 articles (23 RCTs, 292 observational, and 36 case-control studies) were included in the quantitative analysis. The before-and-after analysis showed significant improvements in all semen parameters after varicocele repair (except sperm vitality); semen volume: standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.203, 95% CI: 0.129-0.278; p<0.001; I²=83.62%, Egger's p=0.3329; sperm concentration: SMD 1.590, 95% CI: 1.474-1.706; p<0.001; I²=97.86%, Egger's p<0.0001; total sperm count: SMD 1.824, 95% CI: 1.526-2.121; p<0.001; I²=97.88%, Egger's p=0.0063; total motile sperm count: SMD 1.643, 95% CI: 1.318-1.968; p<0.001; I²=98.65%, Egger's p=0.0003; progressive sperm motility: SMD 1.845, 95% CI: 1.537%-2.153%; p<0.001; I²=98.97%, Egger's p<0.0001; total sperm motility: SMD 1.613, 95% CI 1.467%-1.759%; p<0.001; l2=97.98%, Egger's p<0.001; sperm morphology: SMD 1.066, 95% CI 0.992%-1.211%; p<0.001; I²=97.87%, Egger's p=0.1864.

CONCLUSIONS

The current meta-analysis is the largest to date using paired analysis on varicocele patients. In the current meta-analysis, almost all conventional semen parameters improved significantly following varicocele repair in infertile patients with clinical varicocele.

Varicoceles: Overview of Treatment from a Radiologic and Surgical Perspective

A testicular varicocele is the result of the expansion of the venous pampiniform plexus of the scrotum. Often painless, a significant number of patients experience orchialgia, swelling, testicular atrophy, and abnormalities in spermatic parameters. Treatment of symptomatic varicocele involves a radiologic or surgical intervention to obstruct the reflux of venous drainage. Testicular anatomy, diagnostic evaluation and imaging, options for surgical intervention, and a step-by-step description of retrograde embolization and antegrade scrotal sclerotherapy are discussed. Furthermore, included is an overview of postprocedural management and patient outcomes for radiological interventions, and the most up-to-date evidence on the efficacy of varicocele treatments as well as how they compare to each other.

Do sclero-embolization procedures have advantages over surgical ligature in treating varicocele in children, adolescents and adults? Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis

We aimed to systematically review complications, and recurrence rate of varicocele treatment by comparing the surgical ligature versus sclero-embolization techniques in children, adolescents and adults. The secondary outcomes were the evaluation of semen parameters and spontaneous pregnancy rate in adults. The review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework. Continuous variables were pooled using the inverse variance of the mean difference (MD) with a fixed effect, and 95% confidence interval (CI). The incidences of complications were pooled using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel Method with the random effect model and reported as Odds Ratio (OR), and 95% CI. Statistical significance was set two-tail p-value < 0.05. Twenty studies were included. Incidence of postoperative hydrocele was significantly higher in the surgical ligation group (OR 3.06 95% CI 1.06-8.88, p = 0.04). Incidence of postoperative orchiepidydimitys was significantly higher in sclero-embolization group (OR 0.26 95% CI 0.08-0.85, p = 0.02). Presence of normal spermatozoa was significantly higher sclero-embolization group compared with the surgical ligature group (MD 2.54% 95% CI 0.43-4.65, p = 0.02). No difference was found in overall complications, wound infection, testis pain, surgical site hematoma, total sperm count, sperm motility, pregnancy and recurrence rate. This review confirms that current data does still not support the superiority of one type of treatment over other ones.

What family physicians should know about interventional radiology?

Interventional radiology (IR) is a rapidly evolving specialty. The minimally invasive nature of the procedures has led to a paradigm shift in treating many disease processes from conventional surgery to interventional techniques that have become the first choice and the preferred method for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease, many aortic pathologies, and venous diseases. Interventional oncology procedures have become widely available for the treatment of solid hepatic and renal tumors. This includes palliative techniques for many advanced malignancies, and fluid drainage that is exclusively performed by interventional radiologists in many hospitals all around the world. Women's health-related procedures such as uterine fibroid embolization, fallopian tube recanalization, and embolization for pelvic congestion syndrome have become attractive choices for many patients. Family physicians (FPs) are the main source of patient referral to hospitals. However, there is a notable knowledge deficiency of IR among FPs in Saudi Arabia. This may be due to poor communication between FP and IR or the lack of FP's awareness of IR procedures. This is a nonsystematic review to introduce some IR procedures to FPs pertinent to their practice to optimize patient referral and management with the use of IR services. We focused on the most commonly performed IR procedures paying special attention to their clinical indications, benefits, and alternatives.

Pathophysiology and treatment options of varicocele: An overview

Varicocele is the most common correctable cause for male infertility, but not all men with varicocele are affected equally by this condition. The pathophysiology of varicocele-induced fertility remains ill-defined. While evidence suggests that oxidative stress remains a central factor, other mechanisms likely include scrotal hyperthermia, reflux of metabolites, hypoxia and cadmium accumulation. Microsurgical varicocelectomy remains the gold standard treatment option for infertile men with a clinically palpable varicocele and abnormal semen parameters. Newer evidence suggests a potential role for antioxidant supplementation and a meaningful role of varicocelectomy for patients destined for ART to improve pregnancy outcomes.

Effects of Varicocele Treatment on Sperm Conventional Parameters: Surgical Varicocelectomy Versus Sclerotherapy

INTRODUCTION

Varicocele is often associated with impaired sperm parameters. Different procedures have been developed for varicocele treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of varicocele treatment on conventional sperm parameters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We compared two different techniques of intervention: surgical varicocelectomy and sclerotherapy. We also evaluated the number of varicocele recurrences and the pregnancy rate. We included 102 patients (mean age 29.8 ± 0.8 years) with ultrasound diagnosis of varicocele. We excluded patients whose ultrasound evaluation and/or sperm parameters were not known before and after varicocele correction. We divided the patients (excluding 8 with azoospermia) into two subgroups: surgical varicocelectomy (n = 44) and sclerotherapy (n = 50). For each patient, we compared conventional sperm parameters before and after varicocele correction.

RESULTS

After varicocele correction, we found a significant improvement in sperm concentration, total count and total motility. Considering the two subgroups, baseline sperm parameters did not differ significantly. Sperm concentration and total count increased significantly after varicocele correction by varicocelectomy. Varicocele correction by sclerotherapy resulted in a significant increase in sperm concentration, progressive and total motility. We found varicocele recurrence in 32% of patients who underwent varicocelectomy and in 19.7% of patients undergoing sclerotherapy. The pregnancy rate was higher after sclerotherapy (28%) than after surgical varicocelectomy (13%).

CONCLUSION

Varicocele treatment must be recommended when other causes of infertility have been treated. Our results suggest the use of sclerotherapy for varicocele repair.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

2 b.

Selecting patients for embolization of varicoceles based on ultrasonography

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess patient selection for embolization of varicoceles based on ultrasonography. An additional objective of the work was to evaluate the results of endovascular treatment. Material and methods: From January 2015 till August 2017, 53 patients with varicoceles diagnosed in an ultrasound examination underwent endovascular treatment in the Department of Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology in Lublin, Poland. Each ultrasound examination was performed using the Logiq 7 GE Medical System with a linear probe at 6–12 MHz using the B-mode and Doppler functions. The study was performed in both the supine and standing position of the patient. The morphological structures of the scrotum and the width of the pampiniform venous plexus were assessed. Based on clinical signs and symptoms as well as ultrasound findings, the patients were selected for endovascular treatment. This procedure involved the implantation of coils in the distal and proximal parts of the testicular vein and administration of a sclerosing agent between the coils. Results: Varicoceles were confirmed in all patients during a color Doppler scan. Diagnostic venography confirmed venous stasis or retrograde flow in the testicular vein and widened vessels of the pampiniform venous plexus over 2 mm in diameter in all patients undergoing endovascular treatment. The diagnostic efficacy of ultrasound was 100%. The technical success of the procedure was 89%. One patient had a recurrence of varicose veins (2.2%). There were no complications in any of the patients. Conclusions: Ultrasound is the preferred method in the diagnosis of varicoceles and selection for their treatment. Testicular vein embolization is a minimally invasive procedure characterized by high efficacy and safety.

Varicocele management for infertility and pain: A systematic review

Despite being first described two thousand years ago, the varicocele remains a controversial multifaceted disease process with numerous biological consequences including infertility, hypogonadism, and chronic orchidalgia. The underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood and likely include hypoxia, oxidative stress, hyperthermia, anatomical aberrations, and genetics as primary components. Despite a high prevalence amongst asymptomatic fertile men, varicoceles paradoxically also represent the most common correctable cause for male infertility. In this systematic review we discuss the rich historical aspects of the varicocele and the contemporary data regarding its clinical manifestations. We performed a systematic literature review with the goal of comparing outcomes and complication rates of each of the major surgical approaches as they relate to infertility and pain. We performed a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA)-compliant systematic literature review for manuscripts focused on varicocele and its biological consequences. We identified 112 studies suitable for qualitative analysis and included 56 of these for quantitative analysis, with an emphasis on infertility and chronic pain outcomes. Taken together, the clinical work to date suggests that the highest fertility rates and the lowest complication rates are associated with the microsurgical subinguinal surgical approach to varicocelectomy. In all, 26-40% of patients undergoing varicocelectomy will successfully achieve short-term spontaneous pregnancy, and up to 90% of all patients undergoing varicocelectomy for pain will have improvement and/or resolution of their symptoms. Taken together, the data support an ongoing role for varicocelectomy in both of these clinical arenas.