ADVANTAGES OF EMBOLIZATION

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• During the surgery, the veins are seen and tied up from outside and thus, there is always the risk of ligating other vessels unintentionally including the normal veins, arteries and lymphatic channels. In contrast, since embolization is performed inside the veins it is impossible to go out of the vein and harm the other vessel systems such as arteries and lymphatics. For this reason, testicular loss due to arterial damage or hydrocele due to closure of the lymphatic channels are never seen in embolization.​

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• In the surgical operation, either the vessels causing the varicocele are ligated (classical surgery) or the vessels of the varicocele are ligated (microsurgery), both cannot be treated. However, both varicocele itself and the vessel causing it can be treated with embolization in a single session.

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• In both-sided varicocele, treatment can be performed in the same session through the same skin entry site. In surgery, two different incisions are necessary.

   

• If the patient has leg varicosities besides the varicocele, both may be caused by the refluxing testicular vein, and if this vein is embolized the both conditions can be treated.

   

• In embolization, there are no incision and stitches. Everything is done through a small hole in the vein.

   

• Embolization is performed under local anesthesia while in surgery, general or spinal anesthesia are needed.

   

• In embolization, patients may leave the hospital a few hours after the procedure, while in surgery hospitalization is generally required. After embolization, patIn embolization, patients may leave the hospital a few hours after the procedure, while in surgery hospitalization is generally required. After embolization, patients can do even strenuous activities a few days later but after surgery, this may take a few weeks.

   

• The most important disadvantage of embolization is the unavailability of the technical equipment (e.g. angiography device) and staff (e.g. interventional radiologist). For this reason, it can not be performed anywhere in the world.

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