Testicular growth after successful varicocele correction in adolescents: comparison of artery sparing techniques with the Palomo procedure.

Testicular growth after varicocele surgery was evaluated in 116 boys 9 to 20 years old. A total of 88 boys was available for followup testicular examination 3 to 60 months after successful varicocele repair (mean 25). Left testicular volume loss of 2 cc or greater was present preoperatively in 72 of the 88 patients. The Palomo procedure was performed in 36 cases and repair using artery sparing techniques was done in 36. Mean relative left testicular volume increased 18% in the artery sparing group and 21% in the Palomo group. The increase in relative testicular volume compared to preoperative volumes was statistically significant in both groups (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in testicular growth between the groups and no postoperative testicular atrophy was observed. A comparison group of 8 boys with uncorrected varicoceles demonstrated a mean relative volume increase of 3% (mean followup 22 months). The increase in testis volume in successfully corrected cases was statistically different (p < 0.05) from that of uncorrected cases. We conclude that reversal of varix induced testicular growth failure occurs only after successful surgical correction. The Palomo procedure resulted in equivalent testicular growth compared to the artery sparing techniques with fewer complications and no testicular atrophy despite intentional ligation of the testicular artery. Based on our data, we believe that the Palomo procedure should be the procedure of choice for adolescent varicocele correction.