Percutaneous Varicocele Occlusion: Long-term Follow-up

The authors summarize their 11-year experience with percutaneous varieocele occlusion at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Data were obtained from the patients’ medical records and from a mailed questionnaire. Most of the data analysis is based on the 182 patients who responded to the questionnaire. Most of the occlusions were performed for infertility. The mean length of time couples had been attempting to conceive was approximately 44 months. Occlusion was technically successful in 95.7% of cases. Patients were followed up for a mean period of 59 months. Success is difficult to define because many patients and/or their wives received additional infertility treatment. Fifty-seven percent of all couples and 60% of a subgroup of couples who received no other treatment eventually conceived. Percutaneous occlusion is a well-established treatment for varicoceles. Pregnancy rates and recurrence rates are comparable to those following surgical varicocelectomy. It is unlikely that resultant pregnancies occur from random chance alone.