Treatment of idiopathic varicocele in children and adults by occlusion of the testicular vein with a detachable balloon

: The results of varicocele treatment by balloon occlusion of the testicular vein in 22 children and 29 adults are compared with the results after operative ligation of the testicular vein in 95 patients. In 6 out of 22 children (27%) the varicocele persisted after balloon occlusion, compared with 3 out of 29 adult patients (10%). These results in adults are comparable to the results after operative ligation of the testicular vein, whereas the complication rate was significantly lower after balloon occlusion in comparison with operative treatment.