Foam sclerotherapy embolization: minimally invasive treatment of varicocele

  Varicocele is a common disease in young adults, mostly on the left side, with an incidence of 10-15% in the male population and 15-20% in male infertility, and the incidence is increasing year by year, with a trend toward a younger population. This condition is mainly due to the coarctation and dilatation of the veins in the spermatic cord due to obstruction of venous return. It can be associated with testicular atrophy and impaired sperm production, resulting in male infertility. Long periods of standing, often with increased abdominal pressure, can contribute to the formation and development of the disease, such as teachers, salesmen and ticket takers. In a few young people, due to high libido and heavy local congestion, varicocele can also appear and all have symptoms. The symptoms are usually cramping pain in the scrotum after prolonged standing, and in severe cases pain in the ipsilateral lower abdomen or inner thighs. These symptoms disappear after lying down. In recent years, it has been reported that sperm count decreases in patients with varicocele, which affects fertility. After treatment, fertility can be restored. In addition some patients experience mental disturbance, anxiety, insomnia, general weakness, impotence and other symptoms. Severe varicocele can cause testicular atrophy on that side and patients often come to the doctor because of small testicles. Therefore, the medical profession suggests that young unmarried men should not ignore the situation of varicocele if it is found, and should have regular follow-up examinations and early treatment if it is serious.  So, how should varicocele be treated?  Generally speaking, the traditional treatment for varicocele is surgery, which can be done by high level ligation of the internal spermatic vein. However, nowadays, when many patients think of surgery, a shadow of fear is unconsciously cast over their hearts and many complications of surgery come to their minds. Therefore, with the development of science and the advancement of medical technology, surgery in the 21st century has become an era of minimally invasive surgical sublimation. The treatment of varicocele has also moved in the direction of minimally invasive. Here, the minimally invasive treatment of varicocele is introduced to the readers.  At present, the minimally invasive treatment of varicocele is mainly foam sclerotherapy injection of the spermatic veins. Foam sclerosing agent is a foam-like substance formed by mixing liquid sclerosing agent with gas, and the main component is polyethylene glycol monododecyl ether. The main method is to inject the sclerosing agent into the varicose vein, the injected sclerosing agent has a certain viscosity in the varicose vein, which can block this section of the vein in a short time, so that the diseased vein is not varicose and congested, after that, the tortuous mass of the vein will no longer exist, and the obstructed venous return will disappear, and then the symptoms of varicose veins will gradually improve. In addition, foam sclerotherapy of varicocele has been proven to be safe and effective, and has the advantages of low treatment cost, quick recovery and simple application, and has gradually become an important means of modern varicocele treatment.  With such a safe, effective and easy treatment, young patients who are troubled by varicocele all day long do not have to be afraid or distressed. Seeing that the number of people who are troubled by this disease in the clinic is getting younger and younger, the vascular surgeon advises the health-loving people: please take care of your body, find the disease early, treat the disease timely, and don’t let varicocele bring inconvenience to your working life.