Spermatic vein obliteration using hot contrast medium in dogs.

Obliteration of varicoceles in men with infertility has been shown to improve semen quality and increase fertility rates. Many current techniques involve complex procedures and specialized equipment and may be associated with adverse effects. Transcatheter thermal vessel occlusion was utilized for spermatic vein obliteration in dogs. Diatrizoate (76%) contrast medium at a temperature of 100 degrees C was injected into canine spermatic veins. Follow-up venography and histologic examination revealed thrombosis of the injected veins without damage to the surrounding tissues in all cases. Clinical and laboratory examination of the animals revealed no adverse systemic effects. It is concluded that transcatheter thermal venous occlusion is an effective technique for spermatic vein occlusion in a canine model.