Left-sided grade 3 varicocele may affect the biological function of the epididymis.

Objective: Varicocele is present in approximately 30-40% of men evaluated for infertility and in 10-20% of the general male population, but the association between varicocele, compromised semen quality and male infertility remains unclear. This indicates that varicocele may impair spermatogenesis or in some other way mitigate sperm quality. Better understanding of criteria for the selection of men who will benefit from varicocele repair would improve the clinical management of men with impaired semen quality and varicocele.

High frequency of thoracic aneurysms in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).

Background: Different disease profiles between men and women treated for AAA have been reported. Reports regarding causes of death for treated AAA patients have shown an increased risk of death because of other aneurysms for women, possibly TAA.

High 18F-FDG Uptake in synthetic aortic vascular grafts on PET/CT in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

Unlabelled: Graft infection is a serious complication to vascular surgery. The aim of this study was to assess (18)F-FDG uptake in vascular grafts in patients with or without symptoms of graft infection.

Methods: In all 2,045 patients examined by PET/CT at our clinic, 16 patients with synthetic aortic grafts were identified and reevaluated for (18)F-FDG accumulation.

Risk factors for poor collateral development in claudication.

The objective of this retrospective, cross-sectional study was to determine risk factors for poor collateral development in patients with claudication. The authors listed all patients with calf claudication who had undergone angiography in this hospital between 1999 and 2001 and extracted those with superficial femoral artery (SFA) occlusion, a popliteal artery without major lesions, and at least 1 patent calf artery. Forty-five patients met the criteria, and concomitant disease and claudication characteristics, ankle/brachial index (ABI) and number of outflow vessels were recorded.

Long-term outcome of infrainguinal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term outcome of infrainguinal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA).

Methods: Between 1991 and 1994, 77 patients (45 men; mean age 70 years, range 41-85) underwent infrainguinal PTA for occlusive disease. Patient records and angiographic examinations were reviewed to extract data to a patient register.