Treatment of Idiopathic Varicoceles by Transfemoral Testicular Vein Occlusion

Percutaneous transfemoral occlusion of the testicular vein is a new alternative in the treatment of idiopathic varicocele. Embolization with the Gianturco coil was done on 27 patients. The occlusion was performed immediately after diagnostic phlebography. The results of followup for 1 year are available for 18 patients. In 1 patient the coil had to be removed because of persistent pain, although cause and effect could not be proved. Two patients had a recurrence. The urographic findings were normal 1 year after embolization. No dislocation of the foreign body was observed. Two patients reported that their wives were pregnant.