Embolisation is presently the preferred choice for varicocele treatment. It is a daycare procedure and after the embolisation patient can be sent home the same day. The major advantages are that there are:
Varicocele Embolisation is done by angiography. A catheter is placed in a vein in the groin or the arm. This catheter is guided to the abnormal veins in the scrotum by the guidance of X rays.
Once in the target abnormal veins, embolic glue is used to seal the abnormal veins. The procedure usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Varicocele is a bunch of abnormally enlarged veins in a man’s scrotum. A varicocele is a relatively common condition in young men and occurs mostly on left side. It is the most common identified correctable cause of male infertility.
What are the symptoms of varicocele?
Varicocele often does not cause any symptoms. When symptomatic, varicocele may cause pain, swelling, and sometimes infertility. A common explanation is that the varicocele increases the temperature in testes and adversely affects the sperm count and quality. In some men, varicocele can cause shrinking (atrophy) of the testicles.
How is varicocele diagnosed?
Self-exam of the scrotum is an easy way to diagnose a varicocele. A varicocele can feel like a “bag of worms”, and is usually found on the left side. Ultrasound Doppler confirms the diagnosis and also tells us the severity and grade of the varicocele.
What is the treatment?
For mild or occasional symptoms, wearing a jockstrap (tight underwear) and avoiding heavy weight lifting may help.
If these measures do not help, the varicocele can be treated with EMBOLISATION or Surgery. The goal of the treatment is to stop the reverse blood flow through the abnormal enlarged veins.
How does Embolisation work?
Embolisation treatment involves blocking the abnormal veins through angiography by placement of liquid glue or coils. This procedure is done without open surgery.
A small catheter (thin plastic tube) is inserted in a vein in the arm or leg and guided to the target site. Then liquid glue is injected through the catheter into the target vein. The target vein is thus blocked immediately.
What are the advantages of varicocele embolisation?
Varicocele embolisation is done as a day care procedure under local anaesthesia. The patients can be discharged after few hours of observation. This is least invasive, very safe and has high success rates.
What is the success rate?
The success rate is more than 90% with embolisation. Its safety and effectiveness has been shown in very large studies.
What is best for me?
Discuss your treatment options with an Interventional Radiologist. If you have any questions or doubts, write us an email or book a consultation.
Interventional Radiology has revolutionised the modern healthcare by providing minimally invasive and highly targeted therapeutic options for a variety of diseases. Our mission is to make these IR procedures available to our own population at a reasonable cost with best results.
Interventional Radiology has revolutionised the modern healthcare by providing minimally invasive and highly targeted therapeutic options for a variety of diseases. Our mission is to make these IR procedures available to our own population at a reasonable cost with best results.
Dr Shahnawaz Bashir
Interventional Radiology Clinic
Call: +917835056123
email: office.irClinic@gmail.com
Room W-19, Ground Floor, West block,
MAX Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, 110017