Varicoceles: Overview of Treatment from a Radiologic and Surgical Perspective

Drainage of varicose veins during subinguinal microscopic varicocelectomy (vein milking): Does it affect pain, cosmetic appearance, and spermiogram?

INTRODUCTION

Varicocele, defined as abnormal convoluted enlargement of the pampiniform plexus veins, is the most common cause of correctable male infertility. This study aimed to investigate the effect of blood drainage in varicose veins on spermiogram parameters, postoperative pain, cosmetic appearance, and patient satisfaction in patients undergoing subinguinal microscopic varicocelectomy.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with clinical varicocele and admitted to our urology outpatient clinic between January 2020 and January 2024 were evaluated. Those with a venous vessel diameter ≥ 2.5 mm underwent subinguinal microscopic varicocelectomy. In 75 patients, a small incision was made in the thickest varicose vein, and the veins were ligated after venous blood was drained by hand patting. In another 75 patients, vessels were cut and ligated by the classical method without venous blood drainage. Exclusion criteria included patients younger than 18, those with secondary varicocelectomy history, undescended testis, testicular trauma or tumors, and prior infertility treatment. Preoperative and postoperative spermiogram values, pain scores, cosmetic appearance, and patient satisfaction were recorded and compared.

RESULTS

The pain rate was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the blood-milking varicocelectomy group during postoperative controls (7-10 days) compared to the classical method group. The blood-milking group also showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) sperm count and motility at the 3rd postoperative month. Cosmetic satisfaction was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the blood-milking group.

CONCLUSIONS

Blood drainage during subinguinal microscopic varicocelectomy significantly reduces postoperative pain and enhances sperm values, cosmetic outcomes, and patient satisfaction. These findings suggest that vein-milking techniques during varicocelectomy can optimize postoperative outcomes.

Surgical Efficacy in Varicocele Ligation with Ephedrine-Assisted Blood Pressure Control

BACKGROUND Surgery for varicocele has evolved to include microscopy-guided methods for spermatic vein ligation. This retrospective observational clinical study included 52 patients undergoing microscopic spermatic veins ligation (MSVL) for varicocele to compare outcomes in patients with and without medically induced elevation of blood pressure (EBP) aimed at improving identification of the testicular arteries (TAs). MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty-five patients underwent MSVL and 27 patients underwent MSVL with ephedrine (6.52±1.28 mg) to briefly increase BP to 140-160 mmHg. The duration of the procedure, the number of TAs preserved, the number of spermatic veins ligated, the incidence of arterial injuries, the incidence of complications, the incidence of recurrence, and the preoperative and 6-month postoperative semen parameters were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS The operative time in the EBP group (36.48±4.53 min) was significantly shorter than that in the non-elevated blood pressure (NEBP) group (50.40±6.46 min) (P<0.001). The number of preserved TAs in the EBP group (1.33±0.48) was significantly higher than that in the NEBP group (0.96±0.45) (P=0.006). Postoperative semen parameters in both the EBP and NEBP groups were significantly improved compared with the preoperative period (both P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in the number of spermatic veins ligated, incidence of arterial injury, incidence of complications, recurrence rate, or semen parameters at 6 months postoperatively (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS During MSVL, the use of ephedrine to increase BP to 140-160 mmHg can assist surgeons in safely and effectively identifying and preserving the TAs, thus improving the efficacy of the procedure.

ICSI using testicular spermatozoa after failure of ICSI with ejaculated spermatozoa could be a good choice: A propensity score-matched cohort study

BACKGROUND

Ejaculated spermatozoa are considered to possess a higher fertilisation potential than testicular spermatozoa. In selected cases, the use of testicular spermatozoa from non-azoospermic infertile men resulted in a higher implantation and pregnancy rate than the use of ejaculated spermatozoa.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective was to compare the live birth rate and cumulative live birth rate between couples with failed intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure using ejaculated spermatozoa who subsequently had an intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle with testicular spermatozoa and those who subsequently had an intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle with ejaculated spermatozoa. The secondary objective was to determine the indications for the use of testicular spermatozoa after intracytoplasmic sperm injection failure with ejaculated spermatozoa.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study of matched couples using propensity score matching analysis was performed. After an intracytoplasmic sperm injection failure (cycle_1), intracytoplasmic sperm injection with either ejaculated spermatozoa (ejaculated sperm group), or testicular spermatozoa (testicular sperm group), was performed (cycle_2). The matching was on intracytoplasmic sperm injection performed in cycle_1 according to spermatozoa used (testicular or ejaculated) in cycle_2. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the influence of sperm origin on cumulative live birth rate. Univariate analysis on parameters of cycle_1 was used to identify the prognostic factors to propose an intracytoplasmic sperm injection with testicular spermatozoa in case of cycle_1 failure. The study outcomes were live birth rate and cumulative live birth rate.

RESULTS

Among the 6034 couples available, 63 were selected to constitute the testicular sperm group and 63 were selected by propensity score matching to constitute the ejaculated sperm group. After matching, the DNA fragmentation index was higher in the testicular sperm group (13.43% ± 9.65% vs. 8.93% ± 4.47%, p = 0.013); no significant difference was observed for the fertilisation rate, the number of obtained embryos, blastulation rate and frozen embryo rate. In cycle_2, the live birth rate was higher in the testicular group (22.2% vs. 0.0%, p < 0.001), as was the cumulative live birth rate (25.4% vs. 6.3%, p = 0.065). The prognostic factors identified for the proposal of intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure with testicular spermatozoa after intracytoplasmic sperm injection failure with ejaculated spermatozoa were: teratozoospermia, cryptozoospermia and high DNA fragmentation index.

DISCUSSION

According to the present study and current knowledge, the use of testicular spermatozoa after failed intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure in non-azoospermic men could be proposed instead of sperm donation in case of high sperm DNA fragmentation index, cryptozoospermia and teratozoospermia. A good oocyte response to ovarian stimulation during the previous assisted reproductive technology attempt will increase the chance of success. Although the main limitation of the current study is its retrospective nature, the use of the propensity score matching to perform causal inference study increases its reliability.

CONCLUSION

The present study supports that the use of testicular spermatozoa outside the classical indication of azoospermia is a good option when the indication is well established. However, before proposing a testicular biopsy, an improvement in sperm characteristics should be considered by treating the causes of sperm alteration.

[First-line management of infertile couple. Guidelines for clinical practice of the French College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 2022]

OBJECTIVE

To update the 2010 CNGOF clinical practice guidelines for the first-line management of infertile couples.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Five major themes (first-line assessment of the infertile woman, first-line assessment of the infertile man, prevention of exposure to environmental factors, initial management using ovulation induction regimens, first-line reproductive surgery) were identified, enabling 28 questions to be formulated using the Patients, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) format. Each question was addressed by a working group that had carried out a systematic review of the literature since 2010, and followed the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE®) methodology to assess the quality of the scientific data on which the recommendations were based. These recommendations were then validated during a national review by 40 national experts.

RESULTS

The fertility work-up is recommended to be prescribed according to the woman's age: after one year of infertility before the age of 35 and after 6months after the age of 35. A couple's initial infertility work-up includes a single 3D ultrasound scan with antral follicle count, assessment of tubal permeability by hysterography or HyFOSy, anti-Mullerian hormone assay prior to assisted reproduction, and vaginal swabbing for vaginosis. If the 3D ultrasound is normal, hysterosonography and diagnostic hysteroscopy are not recommended as first-line procedures. Chlamydia trachomatis serology does not have the necessary performance to predict tubal patency. Post-coital testing is no longer recommended. In men, spermogram, spermocytogram and spermoculture are recommended as first-line tests. If the spermogram is normal, it is not recommended to check the spermogram. If the spermogram is abnormal, an examination by an andrologist, an ultrasound scan of the testicles and hormonal test are recommended. Based on the data in the literature, we are unable to recommend a BMI threshold for women that would contraindicate medical management of infertility. A well-balanced Mediterranean-style diet, physical activity and the cessation of smoking and cannabis are recommended for infertile couples. For fertility concern, it is recommended to limit alcohol consumption to less than 5 glasses a week. If the infertility work-up reveals no abnormalities, ovulation induction is not recommended for normo-ovulatory women. If intrauterine insemination is indicated based on an abnormal infertility work-up, gonadotropin stimulation and ovulation monitoring are recommended to avoid multiple pregnancies. If the infertility work-up reveals no abnormality, laparoscopy is probably recommended before the age of 30 to increase natural pregnancy rates. In the case of hydrosalpinx, surgical management is recommended prior to ART, with either salpingotomy or salpingectomy depending on the tubal score. It is recommended to operate on polyps>10mm, myomas 0, 1, 2 and synechiae prior to ART. The data in the literature do not allow us to systematically recommend asymptomatic uterine septa and isthmoceles as first-line surgery.

CONCLUSION

Based on strong agreement between experts, we have been able to formulate updated recommendations in 28 areas concerning the initial management of infertile couples.