Awareness of Varicocele Therapeutic Options in Adults among Qassim, Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Varicocele is prevalent, occurring in approximately 15% of all men, 35% of men with primary infertility, and up to 80% of men with secondary infertility.

Method(s): A cross-sectional study is conducted by distributing a self-administrated questionnaire to the Qassim population. It included 23 questions that covered social-economic conditions. Our study was performed to compare factors that may lead to early re-intervention after initial angioplasty.

Method(s): Between 2018 and 2021, 60 patients had 116 endovascular fistula interventions. Of these, 44 angioplasties and 60 drug-coated angioplasties were performed. These were treated with 80 juxta-anastomosis, 45 useable, 30 outflow, and 1 central vein segments. An exact regression model was created with the dependent variable defined as re-intervention and the following as covariates: antiplatelet use, diabetes, segment of fistula, type of angioplasty, and stent stenosis.

Result(s): Exact regression revealed antiplatelet/anticoagulant use to have a significant trend (OR 3.08, p = 0.06). Similarly stent stenosis seemed to trend toward significance (OR 0.4, p = 0.07). While the segment of fistula being intervened on, presence of diabetes or type of angioplasty was not significant.

Conclusion(s): The use of antiplatelets to be protective and stent stenosis to be a risk factor for re-intervention in arteriovenous fistula's. We advocate for antiplatelet use and atherectomy in diseased stents.

Publication History

Article published online:
09 February 2023