Varicocele
Varicoceles can impact your fertility and overall well-being and Dr. Manish Taneja is here to offer effective treatments tailored to your needs. The Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic combines cutting-edge techniques and personalized care to provide you with the best possible outcomes from minimally invasive procedures to innovative therapies.
Introduction to Varicocele
Varicocele is a vascular disorder affecting veins of the scrotum. It is abnormal collection of tangled veins in the scrotum above the testicles. This is due to engorgement of veins in the scrotum due to weak valves preventing normal venous blood to flow out.
Varicoceles are common, seen in about 1 in 5 males. These are usually seen on left side with some cases seen on both sides of the scrotum. Right side isolated varicocele is rare and needs thorough evaluation.
Varicocelle Symptoms
Varicocele can be asymptomatic in a significant number of patients. Occasionally, it may present as swelling felt by patients above the testicle.
Symptomatic patients experience scrotal or groin pain that may be sharp to dull throbbing ache. Some patients experience scrotal heaviness that gets worse with exercise, or after prolonged standing. Occasionally varicocele can present with sudden onset of sharp pain due to inflammation of the veins due to venous congestion.
Varicoceles have also been associated with low sperm count and infertility.
Diagnosis of Varicocele
Diagnosis of varicocele is based on clinical assessment followed by ultrasound scan of the scrotum. The latter is usually done in lying down and standing position especially in symptomatic patients.
Management of Varicoceles
There are three management options.
- Monitor clinically and on ultrasound scan
- Surgical procedure called varicocelectomy
- Minimally-invasive treatment of varicocele embolization.
Varicocele embolization is day surgery procedure carried out after accessing veins in the groin (rarely the neck). Tiny 2 mm needle mark is used to get into the vein under local anesthesia or intravenous sedation (depending on patient choice). A tiny special tube called catheter is guided using fluoroscopy through the pathway of veins to reach the varicocele. The time required to reach this area is less than 15 minutes with total procedure time of about 45 minutes. Special dedicated coils and embolic agent are injected into the abnormal blood vessels supplying the varicocele in order to block the blood flow. There is no pain or discomfort post-procedure. Normal activites can be resumed fully within 2-3 days.
The major advantage of the procedure is that there is minimal chance of recurrence provided the correct technique is used in hands of an experienced operator.
Other Health Conditions
Being one of the few dual trained and certified neurointerventional and peripheral vascular interventionists in practice in Singapore, Dr. Manish Taneja has a special interest in treating brain aneurysms, stroke, and vascular malformations using latest advanced techniques.
The Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic is your “go-to” facility for various conditions and treatments and specialized care for male health. To arrange an appointment with Dr. Manish Taneja, our vascular specialist, contact us. You can also call us at (+65) 6904 8084 for a consultation.