Comparison of Laparoscopic vs Open Varicocelectomy for Varicocele of Testicular Veins

Abstract

Background: Management or repair of varicocele through surgery is the most common type of treatment. Repair can be done by applying open conventional varicocelectomy, laparoscopic varicocelectomy and microsurgical varicocelectomy. Till now studies have reported variables results regarding both laparoscopic and open repair for varicocele. Objective: To compare the outcome of laparoscopic versus open varicocelectomy of the testicular veins for management of varicocele in males. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Settings: Department of Surgery, Lahore General Hospital, Lahore Pakistan. Duration: Six months from December 11, 2019 to June 11, 2020. Methods: 80 (40 in each group) patients fulfilling the selection criteria were included in this study. These patients were randomly divided in two groups. In group A, patients underwent laparoscopic varicocelectomy. In group B, patients underwent open varicocelectomy. Both procedures were done under general anesthesia. operative time and wound infection were two outcome variables to be compared. Results: In this study shorter operative time was noted in group one (Laparoscopic varicocelectomy) as compared to group two (open varicocelectomy) with 27.52±2.02 minutes in group one vs. 33.62±2.80 in Open group two with p-value=0.000. group one (Laparoscopic varicocelectomy) had low frequency of wound infection as compared to group two (open varicocelectomy) i.e. 7.5% vs. 22.5%, p-value=0.060. Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrate that Laparoscopic varicocelectomy was better than open varicocelectomy for treating varicocele in males in terms of short operative time and less post-operative wound infection.