The Investigation of the Relationship Between Semen Analysis and Doppler Ultrasonografic Findings of Reflux Flow in Patients with Subclinical Varicocele

Authors : Ahmet VURAL, Mustafa SALİH

Pages : 649-656

Doi:10.5798/dicletip.661224

View : 25 | Download : 11

Publication Date : 2019-12-15

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objective: The aim of the present study was to the measurement of reflux flow volume, velocity and duration with color doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) in subclinical varicocele cases, and comparison of CDUS findings with semen analysis. Method: 219 infertile men with no clinical overt varicocele are examined with CDUS. 61 people who have vein diameter bigger than 2 mm, or have 1 second or longer reflux flow were classified as subclinical varicocele. CDUS examination is implemented in decubitus position. Reflux flow volume, velocity and duration of reflux in plexus pampiniformis veins were measured bilaterally during Valsalva maneuver. Results: In subclinical varicocele cases, mean vein diameters were measured mean 2.35 mm while resting, and 2.61 mm during Valsalva maneuver. With Valsalva mean reflux flow volume was 13.56 mL/min, duration was 1.32 sec, flow velocity was 5.6 cm/sec. There were anomaly in semen analysis of 13 of these cases (21.3%). A significant correlation between reflux duration and reflux flow velocity are found. However, no significant relation between reflux flow volume, velocity and duration with semen analysis is detected. Conclusion: In subclinic varicocele cases, CDUS is a valuable diagonistic procedure that is quite successful on detecting the vein diameter and reflux. No relation was found between reflux flow volume, velocity and duration with semen analysis. However, a study commited with a larger group could give more useful information.
Keywords : Varicocele, Color Doppler Ultrasound