Varicocele is a dangerous pathology characterized by the expansion and strong swelling of the veins near the testicle. In the presence of a varicocele, complications after surgery can be a very big problem that many patients often face. Improper treatment leads to the fact that the patient has to additionally carry out the elimination of unpleasant consequences.
Types of surgery
The risk of certain complications after varicocele surgery largely depends on the chosen method of surgical intervention for the treatment of this pathology. Thanks to modern techniques, it is possible to minimize the occurrence of unpleasant consequences, but, unfortunately, it is impossible to completely protect yourself from them.
To have an idea of how exactly a varicocele operation is performed, you need to consider all the main types of surgical intervention. They can be like:
- laparoscopic intervention;
- microsurgical operations;
- X-ray endovascular surgery;
- open operations.
Laparoscopic surgical technique is characterized by high efficiency and is considered to be less traumatic. During the intervention, it is possible to determine the number of branches of the testicular veins, to carry out a resection without touching the artery, which makes it impossible for a recurrence to occur. Patients are discharged the next day.
Microsurgical operation is performed using local anesthesia and does not take much time in duration, it is characterized by high efficiency, however, certain relapses and complications are possible. This type of intervention requires special equipment.
X-ray endovascular surgery is characterized by the fact that it requires x-ray control, however, it is not very effective, and various complications arise.
Open operations are considered traditional, but they are characterized by high trauma, increased complication rate and various relapses. The recovery process is quite long and complicated.
What are the possible complications after surgery
Many patients are interested in the dangers of surgery and what complications after varicocele surgery can occur. One of the most common complications is lymphedema of the scrotum. This disease is characterized by an increase in the half of the scrotum that has undergone surgery. The main cause of such a violation is considered to be ligation or trauma to the vessels. Soreness and swelling occur on the first day after surgery.
Among the possible complications after varicocele surgery is an increase or atrophy of the testicle. These are quite dangerous, but rare consequences. They are associated with damage or ligation of the spermatic cord.
Most often, it is in childhood that complications and recurrence after varicocele surgery are observed. Rehabilitation in this case must necessarily be aimed at eliminating existing problems and fully restoring the functions of the genital organ. Adults may experience problems such as thrombophlebitis, perforation of the walls of the vessels and pampiniform plexus.
Pain after surgery
Complications after varicocele surgery involve the occurrence of pain. This is a fairly common occurrence. In this case, the pain can be dull, pulling, and also associated with sudden movements, playing sports. With a successful operation, there may be slight soreness and some discomfort in the operated area. If the pain is very strong and is permanent, then you should immediately consult a doctor for an additional examination.
Testicular dropsy
Varicocele is considered quite an unpleasant disease. After the operation, the consequences and complications may be the formation of hydrocele. With a hydrocele, fluid accumulates in the groin. This happens mainly due to ligation or damage to the lymph nodes in the groin, which violatesliquid outflow process. The hydrocele is eliminated by additional surgical intervention, during which the outflow of lymphatic fluid is normalized.
What not to do after surgery
It is worth remembering that after varicocele surgery in the postoperative period, certain rules must be observed. In particular, you must:
- for two days after the operation, bed rest;
- minor activity allowed during rehab;
- for 2 days it is forbidden to remove bandages and wet them.
Basically, all sutures dissolve on their own within a few weeks, which is why there is absolutely no need to use additional funds. It is allowed to start playing sports and doing physical exercises after 5-10 days. After the operation, it is not recommended to take a bath for 5 days.
Recovery time after varicocele surgery largely depends on the stage of the disease and the age of the patient. You need to understand that the older the patient, the longer the recovery period will be.
Complications in the postoperative period
Specialists say that during the recovery period, complications of varicocele are quite rare. Often they are associated with an insufficiently high level of professionalism of doctors or difficulties encountered during the operation. However, the occurrence of various risks should not be underestimated, therefore it is importantfully comply with all recommendations of the doctor.
Some complications appear immediately after the implementation of surgical intervention in the postoperative period, but pass on their own, without the intervention of a doctor. In particular, these are violations such as:
- hematoma formation in the area of operation;
- thickening of tissue near the wound;
- appearance of ichor;
- excessive tissue swelling.
After surgery for varicocele, complications in the rehabilitation process can be more serious, which can pose a serious threat to a person's life. In particular, these complications include:
- high temperature for a long time;
- testicular pain;
- strong tissue swelling;
- reddening of fabrics;
- discharge from the wound.
During the recovery period after varicocele surgery, an increase in the testicle and severe pain in it is a great danger. If you experience these symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Rehabilitation period
In the postoperative period, to ensure a faster recovery of the patient, doctors recommend following certain rules, namely:
- don't play sports;
- exclude sexual intercourse;
- compression therapy indicated.
During the recovery period, onlyminor physical activity, in particular light walks. For the period of rehabilitation, a deferment from military service is provided. To exclude the occurrence of relapse, it is necessary to completely exclude sexual relations for the period of rehabilitation. To relieve pain, experts recommend wearing special compression garments.
Sex life after surgery
Regardless of the method of surgical intervention, a man is forbidden to have sex for 3 weeks. However, it is worth noting that the specific timing of the restoration of sexual activity is determined only by the attending doctor. The thing is that each man is individual, and the duration of the rehabilitation period is determined by the anatomical features and the type of operation performed.
Quite often, complications after varicocele surgery may include various problems with spermatogenesis.
Dieting after surgery
In the postoperative period, the patient's diet should be balanced, with a low level of fat and carbohydrates. In some cases, patients may have problems with defecation after surgery. To eliminate the likelihood of relapses and constipation, experts recommend consuming fermented milk products and avoiding muscle strain during bowel movements. If this process continues for several days, then there may be severe intoxication of the body.
Occurrence of relapse
There is a high probability of recurrence of varicocele under the conditionmaintaining blood flow in the spermatic vein. Basically, this condition is observed if not all dilated testicular veins were removed after the operation.
You can reduce the likelihood of recurrence by choosing the most optimal method of manipulation. As statistics show, the younger the patient, the higher the chances of a relapse. At the same time, the older the man, the more difficult it is to restore the functions of the gonads.
Prophylaxis
In order to prevent the occurrence of the disease, you need to adhere to certain preventive measures. At the initial stage of the course of the disease, there are practically no symptoms.
After reaching the age of majority, the disease can be diagnosed already at the 3rd or 4th stage. This disease is widespread and is caused by the expansion of the veins of the pampiniform plexus between the spermatic cord and the testis. It can be observed in children, middle-aged men and the elderly. That is why it is important to periodically undergo an examination to detect the disease in the initial stages.
