Comparison of inguinal and laparoscopic approaches in the treatment of varicocele

To determine the pros and cons of inguinal and laparoscopic varix ligation techniques, we reviewed 53 patients who underwent inguinal (n=35) and laparoscopic (n=18) varicocelectomy at two centers. Intraoperative complications were not observed in either of the groups. There was 1 recurrence and 1 persistence in the laparoscopically treated patients. The inguinal approach had the advantage of shorter operating time (19.1 versus 52.8 min), ability to ligate the external spermatic veins, and it could be performed as an outpatient procedure. However, the laparoscopic approasch seemed superior for preserving the spermatic artery (88.8% versus 68.5%) and had lesser postoperative morbidity.