Non-surgical - Varicocele Embolization

Non-surgical catheter directed embolization is an outpatient treatment. Specifically trained interventional radiologist makes a tiny nick in the skin at the groin or neck using local anesthesia and a thin catheter is passed and directed to the testicular vein. With contrast dye injection, interventional radiologist map out exactly where the problem is and by using coils, by embolization, blood flow is re-directed to other healthy pathways. Whole non-surgical treatment procedure is pain less and takes about 30 minute to an hour. The tube is removed and no stitches are needed. Patients are observed for a few hours and go home the same day. Recovery from varicocele embolization typically takes less than 24 hours and patients often return to work the next day.
Varicocele Embolization is effective in improving male infertility and costs about the same as surgical ligation. The study shows, sperm concentration improved in 83 percent of patients undergoing embolization compared to 63 percent of those surgically ligated.

Advantages of Varicocele Embolization

The majority of men in the INDIA undergo surgery as varicocele treatment. This is because they are usually sent to surgeons for evaluation, and many do not know about varicocele embolization.

• It is as effective as surgery, as measured by improvement in pain, semen analysis and pregnancy rates.
• It does not require any surgical incision in the scrotal area.
• A patient with varicoceles on both sides can have both fixed at the same time through one vein puncture site (surgery requires two separate open incisions)
• General anesthesia is not used for embolization (most surgery is done under general).
• There is a lower rate of complications compared to surgery. Infection has not been reported after embolization.
• It requires less recovery time. Post embolization patients are virtually never admitted to the hospital. Even patients with physically demanding jobs may return to work within the next day or two, unlike post surgical patients.

Non surgical vs. surgical treatment