Compare the Outcome of Open Versus Laparoscopic Varicocelectomy

Abstract

Objective:  To compare the outcome of the laparoscopic surgery with open varicocelectomy. It is also assess the 
operative time, postoperative pain, postoperative recovery of patients and postoperative complications of both 
procedures such as, bleeding, haematoma, wound infection,  hyderocele , laparoscopic related complications and 
recurrence. 
Study Design: Observational Study. 
Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in Surgical Unit-IV, Liaquat University Hospital 
Jamshoro, from January 2009 to December 2010. 
Materials and Methods: This study consisted of 80 patients of varicocele grade III were admitted and divided in 
two groups. Group A for open varicocelectomy and group B for laparoscopic varicocelectomy in which each group 
consist of 40 patients. 
Results: The ages of patients ranged between 11 years to 50 years. The mean age of LV group was 25.72+6.026 
years and for OV group was 27.58+6.694 years. In OV group 92.5% of patients were having left varicocele, 5% 
right varicocele and 2.5 bilateral disease where as in LV group 90% of cases were having left , 7.5 % right and 2.5% 
bilateral varicocele . The mean time in OV group was 29.70+8.498 minutes and 25.08+5.558 minutes in LV group 
(p 0.005). The mild pain was observed in 7 (17.5%) patients of OV group and 16 (40 %) patients of LV group. 
Whereas, severe pain was described by 10(25%) patients in OV group and 4 (10 %) patients in LV group (p 
0.032).The wound infection was found in 6 (15%) patients of OV group and 2 (5%) patients of LV group . The  
hydrocele was seen in 5(12.5%) cases of OV as compared 2 (5%) cases of LV group. Residual varicocele and 
recurrence of varicocele was observed in  two cases (2.5%) of OV group and 3 cases of LV group with value p 
<0.359. It was longer about 2-3 days in 34 (85%) of OV patients as compared to LV cases where majority 36(90%) 
were discharged within 1 to 2 days. 
Conclusion: The results shows that LV is superior than OV in terms of better cosmesis, less operative time, less 
complications, short hospital stay and early return to work.