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THE SIGNIFICANCE AND TREATMENT OF PRIMARY VARICOCELE
Author(s) -
Gray F. J.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1971.tb92685.x
Subject(s) - varicocele , medicine , collateral circulation , testicular artery , fertility , vein , surgery , infertility , cardiology , artery , biology , pregnancy , population , genetics , environmental health
Review of the literature indicates that primary varicocele is likely to impair spermatogenesis and fertility. The basic causative factor is incompetence (or absence) of valves in the testicular veins. The resulting elevation of venous pressure, venous stasis (and possibly tissue temperature rise) is transmitted to the ipsilateral testis, and by cross‐circulation through collaterals to the contralateral testis. The older low operations carry high morbidity and low success rates. The modern high operation is designed to preserve the collateral venous circulation and the testicular artery, by division of the testicular vein (or veins) at or above the internal inguinal ring. Its introduction has brought acceptably low morbidity and high success rates. There is evidence also that it improves fertility.