The influence of left renal vein entrapment on outcome after surgical varicocele repair: a color Doppler sonographic demonstration.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of left renal vein entrapment on outcome after surgical varicocele repair using color Doppler sonography. METHODS: Eighty-four men had varicoceles on color Doppler sonography (2 right sided, 74 left sided, and 8 bilateral), which were diagnosed on the basis of a venous diameter of 3 mm or greater and venous retrograde flow in the pampiniform plexus of veins during the Valsalva maneuver or when changing from a supine to an upright position. Diagnosis of the left renal vein entrapment was based on the following criteria: antero-posterior diameter of greater than 1 cm and peak velocity of less than 15 cm/s for the left renal vein at the mid portion and anteroposterior diameter of less than 0.2 cm and peak velocity of greater than 110 cm/s (or, alternatively, a diameter ratio and peak velocity ratio of >5) for the left renal vein between the aorta and superior mesenteric artery. All patients underwent surgical varicocele repair. In postoperative follow-up, we compared the presence of left renal vein entrapment with the frequency of varicocele recurrence. RESULTS: Sixteen (19%) of 84 patients had left renal vein entrapment with a left-sided varicocele. Postoperatively (mean follow-up +/- SD, 19.3 +/- 11.7 months), 27 (32.2%) of 84 had varicocele recurrence, including all 16 patients with left renal vein entrapment and 11 (20.1%) of 68 patients without left renal vein entrapment. The varicocele recurrence rate was significantly greater in patients with left renal vein entrapment (P < .001, Fisher exact test). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of left renal vein entrapment resulted in a significantly higher varicocele recurrence rate. Patients with varicoceles should routinely be evaluated for the presence of left renal vein entrapment before surgical repair.     

实验性精索静脉曲张模型的建立及其对睾丸的影响

目的:研究青春期精索静脉曲张对睾丸的损害,探讨精索静脉曲张不育的机理。方法:通过部分结扎左肾静脉建立大鼠实验性精索静脉曲张模型,于术后8周研究双侧睾丸的组织学改变。结果:成功建立了大鼠实验性精索静脉曲张模型。该模型大鼠的睾丸病理损害以生精上皮退化,精子发生阻滞,生精细胞脱落,曲精小管萎缩,间质水肿,异常Leydig细胞增加最为多见。损害为双侧性。精索静脉曲张大鼠左侧睾丸平均重量较对照组显著减小。结论:精索静脉曲张大鼠双侧睾丸有严重的病理改变,这可能是精索静脉曲张不育的主要原因之一。     

左生殖静脉-下腔静脉转流术治疗胡桃夹综合征合并精索静脉曲张一例

胡桃夹综合征是一种罕见疾病,可导致患者出现蛋白尿、肾功能受损及生殖静脉曲张等系列症状。传统开放手术方式首选左肾静脉转位术,但手术创伤较大,术后近、远期并发症较多,影响患者生活质量。本文报道1例胡桃夹综合征合并左精索静脉曲张的男性青年患者,采用左生殖静脉-下腔静脉转流术并左精索静脉高位结扎术的手术方式,取得了良好治疗效果。该手术方式为胡桃夹综合征合并精索静脉曲张患者提供了新的治疗思路,值得临床借鉴。     

Association between varicocele and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between varicocele and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) via color duplex sonography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four male patients with COPD (age range, 50-89 years; mean +/- SD, 66 +/- 9) and 44 male healthy controls (age range, 47-75 years; mean +/- SD, 65 +/- 6) were evaluated with color duplex sonography for unilateral or bilateral varicocele. RESULTS: The incidence of right, left, and bilateral varicocele was 47.7%, 65.9%, and 38.6% respectively, in the COPD group, versus 22.7%, 52.3%, and 13.6% in the control group. The incidence of right and bilateral varicocele in the COPD group was significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). The incidence of varicocele also increased with increase in COPD severity. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of varicocele in COPD patients is high. Varicocele might be one of the most important causes of scrotal pain and infertility in COPD patients.     

左肾静脉流速与内径比值与精索静脉曲张发病关系的研究

目的 探讨精索静脉曲张(VC)的发病机制.方法 利用彩色多普勒超声对70例VC患者作为实验组及30例健康志愿者作为对照组进行精索静脉、左肾静脉(LRV)内径(D)及血流动力学参数观察;比较两组左肾静脉近段、远段的血流速度(V)与内径比值(V/D);比较实验组Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ级间的左肾静脉近段、远段V/D差异.结果 实验组LRV近段V/D比值高于对照组,远段V/D低于对照组.各级实验组的LRV近段V/D比值有差异(P<0.01).结论 左肾静脉近段V/D比值可反映精索蔓状静脉丛整体血流动力学改变.左侧VC程度越重,左肾静脉近段的血流V/D比值就越大.V/D可作为评价VC的一个指标.     

Incidence and importance of reflux in testicular veins of healthy men evaluated with color duplex sonography

PURPOSE: Reflux in the testicular veins plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of a varicocele. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and the sonographic features-duration and velocity-of reflux in testicular veins of healthy men using color duplex sonography (CDS). METHODS: Healthy male volunteers, 18-45 years old, whose physical examinations and semen analyses were normal, were recruited for this study. The maximum diameters of testicular veins during both normal respiration and Valsalva's maneuver were measured by CDS using a 7.5-MHz linear-array transducer. Veins greater than 2 mm in diameter were considered to be a varicocele, and the subjects in these cases were excluded from the analysis. In cases in which reflux was present, the velocity and duration of reflux in the testicular veins during Valsalva's maneuver were measured. RESULTS: Seventy men, whose mean (+/- standard deviation) age was 27 +/- 7 years, were enrolled in this study. Fourteen of the 70 patients had a left varicocele and thus were excluded from the analysis. Of the 112 hemiscrotums in the remaining 56 patients, 61 (54%) had reflux induced by Valsalva's maneuver and 51 (46%) did not. Twenty-two (39%) of refluxes were on the right side, with a mean duration of 1.1 +/- 0.5 seconds, and a mean velocity of 4.2 +/- 2.1 cm/second; 39 (70%) of the refluxes were on the left side, with a mean duration of 1.1 +/- 0.5 seconds and a mean velocity of 4.9 +/- 2.3 cm/second. The incidence of reflux was significantly higher on the left side (p = 0.003). The duration and velocity of the reflux did not differ significantly between the right and left sides. The difference in the testicular vein diameters between the right (1.3 +/- 0.2 mm; n = 56) and left (1.6 +/- 0.2 mm; n = 56) sides was statistically significant (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Normal-sized testicular veins in healthy subjects had a remarkably high incidence of reflux induced by Valsalva's maneuver. The presence of reflux in subfertile men with normal testicular vein diameters is a diagnostic criterion, but it is necessary to quantify the reflux to prevent misdiagnosis of a varicocele and unnecessary surgery. The measurement of the duration and velocity limits of reflux in a large series of subjects may provide a reliable indicator for the diagnosis of varicocele.     

精索静脉血流速度与内径比值在精索静脉曲张诊断中的意义

目的探讨精索静脉血流速度与内径比值（V／D）对精索静脉曲张的诊断价值。方法对63例临床确诊为精索静脉曲张的患者（VC组）及50例健康受检者（对照组）应用彩色多普勒超声检查观察左侧精索静脉的发病情况，并记录相关数据，进行统计学分析。结果VC组精索静脉内径较对照组明显增宽，V／D比值较对照组明显减小，均存在明显的统计学差异（P〈0．05）；血流速度在两组之间不存在统计学差异（P〉0．05）。结论精索静脉血流速度与内径比值作为评价精索静脉曲张患者精索静脉血流动力学参数的一项重要指标，对精索静脉曲张的诊断有重要意义。     

MSCT观察门静脉高压症患者精索静脉曲张

目的 采用MSCT观察门静脉高压症患者的精索静脉曲张。方法 采用MSCT对572例临床诊断为肝硬化的患者进行腹盆部增强扫描,对门静脉系统与腔静脉系统间交通支开放情况进行评估。结果 在572例患者中,512例存在门静脉系-腔静脉系交通支开放,60例CT显示门静脉的分支及属支未见异常。512例门静脉高压症患者中,98例存在脾静脉-肾前筋膜静脉-左肾静脉交通,男83例,女15例;83例男性患者中,左侧生殖静脉汇入左肾静脉、且左侧生殖静脉及精索静脉存在扩张纡曲者80例。结论 MSCT可用于观察门静脉高压症患者精索静脉曲张;门静脉高压症是引起精索静脉曲张的原因之一。     

Varicocele and Nutcracker Syndrome

Objective. Varicocele is a vascular lesion commonly associated with infertility. Its etiology is only partly understood; hence, the purpose of the study was to establish its correlation with intrinsic anatomic differences and nutcracker syndrome. Methods. A total of 93 patients with varicocele and 76 patients without varicocele were enrolled. The diagnosis of varicocele was based on physical examination, followed by sonographic evaluation of the hilar portion and aortomesenteric portion (AMP) of the left renal vein (LRV). The anteroposterior diameter in millimeters and peak flow in centimeters per second in each region were measured. Results. A total of 28 patients with the nutcracker syndrome were identified in the study group (30.10%), and 2 were identified in the control group (2.63%). The mean diameters of the hilar portion and AMP of the LRV were significantly different in varicocele‐affected patients compared with the control group (P < .0001 for both). The mean peak velocities in the hilar portion and AMP were significantly different in patients with varicocele (P < .0001). Patients with varicocele and nutcracker syndrome did not have a significant difference in either the hilar or AMP diameter compared with patients with varicocele without nutcracker syndrome. They had a significant difference in both the hilar and AMP peak flow velocity (P = .0001 for both). Conclusions. Our findings indicate that nutcracker syndrome is a frequent finding in varicocele‐affected patients and should be routinely excluded as a possible cause of varicocele. In addition, intrinsic anatomic differences in the AMP and hilar portion of the LRV could be directly responsible for the onset of varicocele.     

Left adrenal vein localization by 3D real-time volume-rendering CTA before laparoscopic nephrectomy in living renal donors

Background: We investigated whether the left adrenal vein could be consistently localized on three-dimensional (3D) real-time volume-rendering computed tomographic angiographic (CTA) mapping in a group of living renal donors before laparoscopic nephrectomy. Methods: Sixty-six consecutive potential renal donors were referred for CTA vascular mapping before laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. Thirty-three patients were examined on a single-detector helical CT scanner and the other 33 were examined on a multidetector unit. In each patient, arterial phase and venous phase volumetric data sets were acquired after the intravenous injection of 150 cc of non-ionic contrast material. Three radiologists reviewed the data sets at a free-standing workstation after the application of 3D volume-rendering software and reached a concensus on whether the left adrenal vein was visualized and, when seen, its position relative to the abdominal aorta. Results: The left adrenal vein was found in 92.5% of the 66 donors (91% in the single-detector group and 94% in the multidetector group). The junction of the left adrenal vein and left renal vein averaged 5.2 mm (range = 0–13 mm) from the left lateral wall of the abdominal aorta. Conclusion: Three-dimensional real-time volume-rendering CTA with single-detector and multidetector scanners permits consistent localization of the left adrenal vein in more than 90 % of prospective living renal donors. Received: 7 September 2000/Accepted: 29 November 2000     

Influence of surgically induced varicocele on testicular blood flow, temperature, and histology in adult rats and dogs.

Varicocele had been repeatedly implicated as a cause of infertility in selected men, although neither a causal relationship nor a mechanism has been documented. The purpose of this investigation was to create a varicocele model in animals and to study the subsequent alterations in testicular physiology. Secondary dilatation of the left internal spermatic vein was achieved either by partial ligation of the left renal vein in rats and dogs or by surgical destruction of the valve of the left testicular vein in a second group of dogs. 1 mo after partial ligation in the rats and 3 mo after partial ligation or valve destruction in the dogs, testicular blood flow was measured using Strontium 85 (SR-85)-labeled microspheres (15 +/- 1.1 micrometer). Intratesticular temperature was measured with a Bailey needle probe thermometer and biopsies were obtained for histologic sections. Mean testicular blood flow in milliliters per minute per 100 g was significantly greater in the partially ligated rats; right testis control 26 +/- 2, left testis control 24 +/- 2 compared to right testis experimental 35 +/- 3, left testis experimental 35 +/- 4 (p less than 0.02). Dogs undergoing either partial vein ligation or valve destruction showed similar increases in mean testicular blood flow; right testis control 8 +/- 1, left testis control 8 +/- 1 vs. right testis experimental 16 +/- 3, left testis experimental 18 +/- 4 (p less than 0.01). The mean difference between intratesticular and intraperitoneal temperature in control rats was significantly higher (4.02 +/- 0.25 degrees C right testis, 3.77 +/- 0.14 degrees C left testis), than rats who underwent partial vein ligation (right testis 2.14 +/- 0.09 degrees C, left testis 2.34 +/- 0.12 degrees C) (p less than 0.001). Control dogs also had a significantly higher mean difference between intratesticular and rectal temperatures; (right testis control 3.61 +/- 0.42 degrees C, left testis control 3.60 +/- 0.40 degrees C) than the partially ligated or valve destruction dogs (right testis 2.31 +/- 0.17 degrees C, left testis 2.67 +/- 0.32 degrees C) (p less than 0.05). In addition, histologic evaluation revealed abnormalities in spermatogenesis in some of the animals. Thus, venous dilatation secondary to partial vein ligation or testicular vein valve obliteration is followed by large bilateral increases in testicular blood flow in these two species. A consequence of this increased flow is an elevation in bilateral testicular temperature, which it is postulated, leads to impaired spermatogenesis in some of the animals. In selected men varicocele may impair spermatogenesis by a similar physiologic mechanism.     

精索静脉曲张患者精索静脉管径与血流多普勒参数的相关性

目的探讨彩色多普勒超声检测精索静脉曲张(VC)患者精索静脉管径与多普勒参数的相关性。方法彩色多普勒超声检测32例正常人及116例左侧VC患者,记录精索静脉在平静呼吸时最大内径(DR)及Valsalva试验时的最大内径(DV)、最大反流速度(Vmax)及反流持续时间(TR)。根据管径大小将VC分为亚临床型精索静脉曲张(SVC)、临床型VCⅠ级、Ⅱ级和Ⅲ级共4级。结果①各VC组较对照组DR、DV、Vmax、TR高,随着VC程度增加,DR、DV、Vmax及TR逐渐增大,差异均有显著性意义(P<0.01)。结论精索静脉管径与血流多普勒参数的相关性分析对VC患者的诊治有重要的价值。     

精索静脉曲张对精索静脉血与外周血性激素水平的影响

目的 :探讨精索静脉曲张对精索静脉血和外周血性激素水平的影响。方法 :对 30例精索静脉曲张患者与 2 6例腹股沟斜疝患者的精索静脉血与外周血性激素水平采用放射免疫分析法进行测定。结果 :精索静脉曲张组与腹股沟斜疝组精索静脉血睾酮有明显差异 (P <0 0 5 )。其余各组间比较无差异 (P >0 0 5 )。结论 :精索静脉曲张患者外周血性激素浓度受多种因素影响。测定精索静脉血性激素水平并结合抑制素等指标 ,则能更准确地评价精索静脉曲张患者睾丸的内分泌功能     

精索静脉曲张引起男性不育的超声诊断应用价值

目的:利用超声检查精索静脉曲张(VC)在男性不育与一般人群进行对比,寻找对男性不育比较实用易行的检查和筛选方法。方法:使用高频探头检查74例不育患者和57例一般人群,观察精索静脉内径、静脉返流实验,结合实验室检查精液生殖力进行对比观察。结果:不育患者中VC远较正常人群高,呈显著性差异(P<0.01)。化验精子数及活跃度在有无VC的人群中亦有显著性差异(P<0.01)。结论:在男性不育患者中VC远较正常人群高,是男性不育的常见原因之一,因此十分必要对男性不育患者进行常规多普勒超声检查。     

实验性精索静脉曲张大鼠睾丸氧化应激水平的检测

目的测定青春期精索静脉曲张（VC）大鼠睾丸组织中氧化应激水平,探讨VC致不育的机制。方法将40只雄性青春期Wistar大鼠随机分为VC 8周组、VC 12周组（各12只）和相应的假手术对照组（各8只）,通过部分结扎左肾静脉建立实验性大鼠VC模型,对照组只游离左肾静脉不结扎。分别于术后8、12周解剖动物,测左侧精索静脉最大直径;比色法测睾丸组织内过氧化氢（H2O2）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和总抗氧化能力（T-AOC）水平。结果成功建立了VC模型。VC 8周组和12周组大鼠左侧精索静脉均明显扩张（t=7.19、6.86,P〈0.01）,双侧睾丸组织内H2O2含量较对照组明显增加（t=2.31~4.78,P〈0.05、0.01）,与右侧相比左侧增加更明显（t=2.56、3.15,P〈0.05）,并且左侧VC 12周组比VC 8周组增加更明显（t=2.16,P〈0.05）。VC 8周组和VC 12周组左侧CAT活力与对照组比较显著降低（t=2.23、3.03,P〈0.05、0.01）,右侧数值有下降趋势但差异无显著性（t=0.95、1.41,P〉0.05）。VC 8周组和VC 12周组双侧SOD活力和T-AOC与对照组比较均明显降低（t=3.29~4.72,P〈0.01）,并且VC 12周组比VC 8周组降低更明显（t=2.80、3.38,P〈0.05、0.01）,T-AOC左侧睾丸比右侧下降更明显（t=11.66、7.54,P〈0.01）。结论 VC可引起双侧睾丸H2O2增加,CAT活力、SOD活力以及T-AOC下降,导致睾丸组织内氧化应激系统失衡。     

Intravascular Ultrasound for Evaluation of Left Gonadal Vein Anatomic Variations During Coil Embolization

We illustrate the intravascular ultrasound (US) findings in the evaluation of left gonadal vein anatomic variations. During a 2‐year period, 4 consecutive patients (mean age, 37 years; range, 28–45 years) with left‐sided varicocele underwent embolization. Intravascular US examinations and retrograde venography were performed to assess varicocele anatomy. Anatomic variants were recorded and categorized. A comparison between intravascular US and fluoroscopic findings was performed. The Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis (P < .05). Technical success was achieved in all cases. There was a statistically significant difference in the maximum gonadal vein diameter between venography and intravascular US (P = .0087). Intravascular US showed left gonadal vein anatomic variations and better ability in the evaluation of the vein diameter.     

睾丸剪切波弹性成像早期预测精索静脉曲张相关男性不育症的临床研究

目的:探究睾丸剪切波成像刚度值对精索静脉曲张相关男性不育症早期预测的应用价值。 方法：在2016-2020年来我院男科就诊的精索静脉曲张患者中选取左侧精索静脉单侧曲张Sarteschi分级大于等于3的患者74例,其中根据精液质量分为精液正常组A（37例）和弱精症组B（37例）,另外匹配74例健康人群作为对照组, 测量其睾丸体积并通过剪切波成像计算睾丸刚度,并与对侧正常睾丸和健康对照组睾丸进行比较。 结果： A组精索静脉曲张侧睾丸体积(15.85±2.68m L)和对侧睾丸体积(16.21±3.24m L)无显着性差异(P=0.813);精索静脉曲张侧睾丸的平均刚度值为4.77±1.16kPa,超过对侧睾丸刚度值(3.39±0.97kPa)(P<0.001)。B组精索静脉曲张曲张侧睾丸体积(15.19±2.10mL)明显低于对侧睾丸(17.44±4.38mL)(P=0.013);精索静脉曲张侧睾丸平均刚度值为7.23±1.88kPa,超过对侧睾丸平均刚度值 (4.74±0.79kPa)(P<0.001) 。B组睾丸刚度值(7.23±1.88kPa)高于A组(4.77±1.16kPa)(P=0.002) 。精索静脉曲张患者A组和B组左侧睾丸平均体积及刚度与健康对照组均有显著差异(P<0.001)。 结论：睾丸剪切波成像刚度值是评估精索静脉曲张相关男性不育症更早的一种有效早期检查手段。     

精索静脉曲张对弱精症不育患者睾丸及精液指标的影响

【目的】探讨精索静脉曲张对弱精症不育患者睾丸及精液指标的影响。【方法】收集110例弱精症伴精索静脉曲张患者(观察组),根据临床型精索静脉曲张分级：Ⅰ级37例,Ⅱ级39例,Ⅲ级34例;另外选取35例健康男性志愿者为对照组,两组均进行睾丸、附睾、精索静脉最大内径及精索静脉反流情况检查。比较各组间睾丸体积、精液质量。【结果】观察组分级患者的精子活力、精子活率及精子浓度均明显低于对照组( P <0.05),且随着曲张程度的增加,精子活力、精子活率及精子浓度依次降低(P <0.05);而精液量和精子总数比较无统计学差异(P >0.05);观察组左侧、右侧睾丸体积均小于对照组(P <0.05);观察组分级患者左侧睾丸体积均明显小于右侧(P <0.05),且随着曲张程度的增加双侧睾丸体积依次减小(P <0.05)。【结论】不同程度的精索静脉曲张可引起睾丸体积减小,精液质量下降,随曲张程度增加,睾丸体积变小越明显、精液质量也呈下降趋势。     

影像学诊断胡桃夹综合征进展

胡桃夹综合征（NCS）是由于左肾静脉在腹主动脉和肠系膜上动脉之间受压而引起一系列临床症状的综合征,包括血尿、蛋白尿、侧腹痛、生殖静脉曲张等。影像学检查如多普勒超声、CTA、MRA、血管腔内超声（intravascular ultrasound,IVUS）及肾静脉造影对诊断NCS具有重要作用。本文对NCS的影像学表现和诊断标准进行综述。     

超声造影定量分析在精索静脉曲张诊断中的应用价值

摘 要 目的 探讨超声造影（CEUS）定量分析在精索静脉曲张（VC）诊断中的应用价值。方法 选取我院左侧VC患者27例为研究组，同期健康男性志愿者27例为对照组，所有受检者均行CEUS检查双侧精索静脉，获得CEUS定量参数：精索动静脉渡越时间（TT）、精索静脉到达时间（ATV）、静脉达峰所需时间（TTPV）、静脉达峰时间（PTV）、静脉峰值减半时间（WOT50%）、静脉半衰期（HTV），比较两组上述参数的差异。结果 研究组左侧与右侧精索静脉TT、ATV、TTPV、PTV、WOT50%、HTV比较差异均有统计学意义（均P＜0.05）；对照组左侧与右侧精索静脉各CEUS定量参数比较差异均无统计学意义。研究组与对照组左侧精索静脉TT、ATV、TTPV、PTV、WOT50%、HTV比较差异均有统计学意义（均P＜0.05）；右侧精索静脉各CEUS定量参数比较差异均无统计学意义。结论 CEUS定量参数能够反映精索静脉血流动力学情况，在VC诊断中有一定的应用价值。