Comparison of outcomes of different varicocelectomy techniques: open inguinal, laparoscopic, and subinguinal microscopic varicocelectomy: a randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: To compare the outcomes of the different surgical techniques used in varicocelectomy.

Methods: The study included 120 patients with 147 clinically palpable varicoceles who underwent varicocelectomy. The patients were randomly allocated to one of three equal groups according to the varicocelectomy technique, which included the open inguinal approach, a laparoscopic approach, and subinguinal microscopic varicocelectomy. The assessment included operative and postoperative parameters, together with semen analysis and pregnancy rate. The mean follow-up was 18 months (range 11 to 26).

Results: The operative time in the microscopic group was significantly longer than that for the other two groups. At follow-up, none of the patients of the microscopic group had developed postoperative hydrocele; however, it was observed in 7 (13%) of 52 varicoceles in the open group and 10 (20%) of 50 in the laparoscopic group. This difference was statistically significant in favor of the microscopic group only. Only 1 patient in the microscopic group experienced recurrence of one varicocele compared with 7 and 9 patients in the open and laparoscopic groups, respectively. This difference was statistically significant in favor of the microscopic group only. Improvement in sperm motility and/or concentration was comparable and observed in 65%, 67%, and 76% of the open, laparoscopic, and microscopic groups, respectively. Also, the pregnancy rate at 1 year was not significantly different and was 28%, 30%, and 40% in three groups, respectively.

Conclusions: The findings of our study have demonstrated that, compared with open inguinal and laparoscopic varicocelectomy, subinguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy offers the best outcome.