Varicocele is a dangerous pathology characterized by expansion and severe swelling of the veins around the testicle. In the presence of varicocele, complications after surgery can be a very big problem, which many patients often face. Incorrect 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, however, unfortunately, it is impossible to completely defend against them.
To have an idea of exactly how varicocele surgery is performed, you need to consider all the main types of surgical intervention. They can be such as:
- laparoscopic intervention;
- microsurgical operations;
- X-ray endovascular surgery;
- open operations.
The laparoscopic surgical procedure is highly effective and is considered less traumatic. During the intervention, you can determine the number of branches of the testicular veins, perform a resection without touching the artery, which makes relapse impossible. Patients are discharged the next day.
A microsurgical operation is performed using local anesthesia and does not take so much time, it is characterized by high efficiency, however, certain relapses and complications are possible. For 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 morbidity, an increased frequency of complications and the occurrence of various relapses. The healing process is quite long and complicated.
What can be the complications after surgery?
Many patients are interested in why surgery is dangerous and what complications after varicocele surgery may occur. One of the most common complications is scrotal lymphostasis. This disease is characterized by an increase in the half of the scrotum that underwent surgical intervention. The main reason for such a violation is ligation or trauma of blood vessels. Soreness and swelling occur on the first day after surgery.
Among the possible complications after varicocele surgery, an increase or atrophy of the testicle can be noted. 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 relapse after varicocele surgery are observed. Rehabilitation in this case must necessarily be aimed at eliminating existing problems and fully restoring the functions of the penis. In adults, problems such as thrombophlebitis, perforation of the walls of blood vessels and the plexiform plexus can be observed.
Pain after surgery
Complications after varicocele surgery mean the onset of pain. This is a fairly common occurrence. In this case, the pain can be dull, pulling, as well as associated with sudden movements, playing sports. With a successful operation, slight pain and some discomfort in the operated area may be observed. If the pain is very severe and is permanent, then you should immediately consult a doctor for an additional examination.
Dropsy testicle
A rather unpleasant disease is considered a varicocele. After surgery, the consequences and complications may be the formation of dropsy of the testicle. With hydrocele, fluid accumulates in the inguinal region. This happens mainly due to bandaging or damage to the lymph nodes in the groin, which disrupts the outflow of fluid. Hydrocele is eliminated by conducting additional surgical intervention, during which the outflow of lymphatic fluid is normalized.
What can not be done after surgery
It is worth remembering that after the operation of varicocele in the postoperative period, certain rules must be followed. In particular, you must:
- for two days after the operation, compliance with bed rest;
- during the rehabilitation period, insignificant activity is allowed;
- for 2 days it is forbidden to remove the bandages and wet them.
Basically, all the seams dissolve independently for several weeks, which is why absolutely no additional means are needed. Starting sports and performing physical exercises is allowed after 5-10 days. After the operation, it is not recommended to take a bath for 5 days.
Recovery time after varicocele surgery depends on the stage of the disease and the age of the patient. You need to understand, the older the patient, the longer the recovery period will be.
Postoperative Complications
Experts 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 surgery. However, do not underestimate the occurrence of various risks, therefore it is important to fully comply with all the recommendations of the doctor.
Some complications appear immediately after surgery 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 the tissue near the wound;
- the appearance of a uterus;
- excessive swelling of the tissues.
After surgery for varicocele, complications during the rehabilitation process can be even more serious, which can be a serious threat to human life. In particular, these complications include:
- high temperature for a long time;
- pain in the testicles;
- severe swelling of the tissues;
- tissue redness;
- discharge from the wound.
During the recovery period after varicocele surgery, the enlargement of the testicle and severe pain in it are of great danger. If such signs occur, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Rehabilitation period
In the postoperative period, to ensure a faster recovery of the patient, doctors recommend adhering to certain rules, namely:
- You can not play sports;
- exclude sexual intercourse;
- compression therapy is indicated.
During the recovery period, only minor physical activities are allowed, in particular light walks. For the
period of rehabilitation, a delay is laid off from military service in the army. To exclude the occurrence of relapse, it is necessary for the period of rehabilitation to completely exclude sexual relations. To relieve pain, experts recommend wearing special compression underwear.
Sexual 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, after surgery, varicocele complications may consist in the appearance of various problems with spermatogenesis.
Dieting after surgery
In the postoperative period, the patient's nutrition should be balanced, with a low level of fat and carbohydrates. In some cases, patients after surgery may have problems with bowel movements. To eliminate the likelihood of relapses and constipation, experts recommend consuming dairy products and avoid muscle strain during bowel movements. If this process lasts for several days, then there may be severe intoxication of the body.
Relapse
There is a high likelihood of re-formation of varicocele, provided that the blood flow in the seminal vein is maintained. Basically, this condition is observed if, after the operation, not all dilated testicular veins were removed.
You can reduce the likelihood of a relapse when choosing the most optimal method of manipulation. As statistics show, the smaller the patient’s age, the higher the chances of a relapse. At the same time, the older the man, the more difficult it is to restore the function of the sex glands.
Prophylaxis
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, practically no symptoms occur.
Upon reaching adulthood, the disease can be diagnosed already at stages 3 or 4. This disease is widespread and it is caused by the expansion of the veins of the plexiform plexus between the spermatic cord and testicle. It can be observed in children, middle-aged men and the elderly. That is why it is important to periodically undergo an examination to identify the disease in the initial stages.