Testicle hemodynamics in patients after laparoscopic varicocelectomy evaluated using color Doppler sonography.

OBJECTIVES

Testicular blood supply and semen quality were compared in two groups of patients undergoing laparoscopic varicocelectomy: group I (n = 27) with spermatic artery ligation and group II (n = 48) with spermatic artery preservation.

METHODS

Laparoscopic varicocelectomy was performed on 75 patients divided on the basis of whether ligation took place during surgery or not. The blood flow parameter (resistance index-RI) measured using color Doppler sonography was the index of vascular efficiency selected.

RESULTS

Mean RI was 0.69 in group I and 0.65 in group II. The difference was not significant. Both groups showed improvements in sperm density and motility but there was no significant difference between groups for either parameter.

CONCLUSION

Using color Doppler sonography confirms that ligation of the testicular artery during varicocelectomy does not lead to major changes in testicular blood supply or sperm quality.