Varioceles are weak-walled veins that allow blood to flow backward in the scrotum, and keep the testicles warm, hindering production of sperm. Researchers say the success of the procedure to block off these veins is about the same as traditional surgery - about 44 percent of these infertile men later father children. In the new procedure used by interventional radiologists, a small incision is made in the neck, allowing access to the jugular vein. The incision is made under local anesthesia. We just put a Band-Aid on it.
Doctors then implant through the catheter tiny stainless steel coils that plug one end of the vein.
A chemical is infused below the plugs. The liquid strips cells from the inside of the vein, which encourages scar formation, closing the vein permanently. In the conventional surgical procedure, while the patient is under general anesthesia, doctors make an incision at the top of the scrotum and through the incision tie off the offending veins. The catheter-based procedure is available in hospitals in the United States and Canada, Machan said. But until we did this study we really didn't know that it was true.