The treatment of idiopathic varicocoeles by transfemoral spiral occlusion of the left testicular vein (author's transl)

The standard surgical procedures for the treatment of idiopathic varicocoeles are unsuccessful in, or show a recurrence rate of, up to 25%. An alternative method is transcutaneous embolisation using the Seldinger catheter technique. For this technique of transcutaneous catheter embolization, we have used the Gianturco spiral. The embolization is carried out following diagnostic transfemoral phlebography of the left testicular vein, which also provides the indications or contra-indications for this procedure. The method has been used on nineteen patients with varicocoeles requiring treatment; amonst these were three patients who had had unsuccessful operations. Follow-up period so far is six months. In all cases the varicocoele had disappeared, including one patient who had suffered complications following previous surgery.