EFFECTIVENESS OF LAPAROSCOPIC VARICOCELECTOMY: A COMPARATIVE STUDY WITH SUBINGUINAL APPROACH

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness and outcome of laparoscopic and subinguinal approaches in the management of varicocele. Methods: The study included 64 males equally divided into 2 groups, in which 32 patients underwent subinguinal varicocele ligation (SVL), and the rest (32 patients) underwent laparoscopic varicocele ligation (LVL). The 2 groups were compared as regards operative time, hospital stay, and postoperative complications including recurrence, hydrocele formation, and testicular atrophy. Results: The operative time was significantly shorter in the LVLgroup in both unilateral and bilateral cases. The incidence of postoperative hydrocele formation was significantly higher in the LVL group (6 cases) while no patient developed this complication in the SVLgroup. All other data was statistically non significant. Conclusion: Both techniques are equally effective in controlling varicocele, with non significant difference in recurrence rate, the LVL technique was associated with significantly shorter operative time and significantly higher postoperative hydrocele formation