Author(s)

Cyril Kamadjou^1,2*, Basile Essola², Divine Eyongeta³, Emmanuel Muhawenimana⁴, Annie Kameni¹, Fru Angwafo⁵

¹Medical and Surgical Center of Urology, Douala, Cameroon.
²Department of Surgery and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
³Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
⁴Kigali Teaching Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda.
⁵Coordinator Urology Residency Program, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Background and Objective: The optimal treatment for varicocele is still controversial. Although there are many treatment methods, none can be considered as the best therapeutic option. We present our initial laparoscopic varicocelectomy experience by describing the clinical aspects and evaluating the outcomes of this surgical procedure at the Centre medico-chirugicale d’urologie in Douala, Cameroon. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out between January 2015 and December 2019 on 35 patients with symptomatic varicoceles who were treated for either testicular pain or infertility. All surgical procedures were performed via laparoscopy, with ligation of the spermatic vein using a hemlock clip in the retroperitoneal space. The patients were followed up for three months after surgery, and data were collected and analyzed to obtain results. Results: The study participants were aged 16 - 55 years, with a mean age of 36.11 ± 8.45 years. Infertility was the main presenting complaint. In 65.7% of cases, varicoceles were bilateral with testicular atrophy occurring in 26 patients (74.28%). The surgery duration ranged from 14 minutes to 60 minutes, with an average duration of 34.8 minutes. There was no case of conversion to open surgery. No major complications were observed and all patients were discharged the day after surgery. Three months after surgery, all patients stopped experiencing pain and semen parameters improved in 71.42% of the study participants, with 42.82% of them impregnating their partners. Conclusion: Laparoscopic varicocelectomy is efficient, less time-consuming, with minimal postoperative complications. It can be performed easily in the outpatient department.

Varicocele, Laparoscopic Varicocelectomy, Testicular Pain, Male Infertility

Kamadjou, C. , Essola, B. , Eyongeta, D. , Muhawenimana, E. , Kameni, A. and Angwafo, F. (2022) Laparoscopic Varicocelectomy: Results and Outcomes in a Single Center in Cameroon. Open Journal of Urology, 12, 331-341. doi: 10.4236/oju.2022.126032.