Percutaneous retrograde varicocele embolisation using tungsten embolisation coils: A five year audit

Objective: To assess the efficacy of percutaneous retrogradevaricocele embolisation using Spirale tungsten coils over aperiod of five years. Patients and methods: Fifty consecutivepatients underwent local anaesthetic day case varicocele embolisationvia a right femoral approach. Venous anatomy was identified andclassified. Morbidity and recurrence were recorded at three monthclinical follow up. Results: The procedure was technicallysuccessful in 94% of the patients. The varicocele recurred in16%, the majority of whom had complex venous anatomy. 8% of thepatients complained of discomfort at follow up. Conclusions:Although the coils used in this study have been withdrawn, a hightechnical success rate is described with failure being predominantlydue to complex venous anatomy.