Effect of Percutaneous Sclerosis of the Left Internal Spermatic Vein on Semen Quality

There is general agreement that reduced semen quality will improve following varicocele operation — “high ligation” — in more than 50% of patients with a varicocele [3, 9]. Lima et al. [5] have demonstrated that selective sclerosis will interrupt a retrograde flow in the internal spermatic vein. We previously used selective phlebography of the internal spermatic vein as a diagnostic technique [10, see also this symposium]. Since sclerosis can be accomplished “without any significant prolongation of the diagnostic procedure” [5], we decided to occlude the internal spermatic vein where necessary and feasible.