In this study, we aimed to compare the effects of testicular vein ligation level on complications encountered; i.e. high-level ligation cranial to the linea terminalis vs ligation caudal to the linea terminalis.

A total of 47 unilateral adolescent patients, treated with laparoscopic varicocelectomy between January 2004 and December 2017, were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups in terms of ligation level: caudal to the linea terminalis as group 1 and cranial to the linea terminalis as group 2. Symptoms, varicocele grades, preoperative testicular growth arrest, operative method, hydrocele formation, postoperative recurrence and testicular catch-up growth were recorded.

The mean operation time was 38.6 ± 10.2 min (34-53 min) in group 1 and was 33.6 ± 6.4 min (29-42 min) in group 2. Single hydrocele occurred in the laparoscopic nonselective varicocelectomy in group 1 (4.5%) and was successfully treated with open hydrocelectomy. Single varicocele recurrence was observed in the laparoscopic selective varicocelectomy in group 1 (4.5%) and treated with laparoscopic nonselective varicocelectomy cranial to the linea terminalis.

The high-level ligation of the spermatic veins cranial to the linea terminalis during laparoscopic varicocelectomy, independent of the technique applied, may contribute to reasonable low hydrocele and recurrence rates.

Level III.

Journal of pediatric surgery. 2019 Jul 19 [Epub ahead of print]

Oktay Ulusoy, Osman Zeki Karakus, Oğuz Ateş, Faika Gülce Hakgüder, Mustafa Olguner, Feza Miraç Akgür

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: ., Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey., Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey; Division of Pediatric Urology, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.

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