Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28547739›Full record

Observational studyJournal of endocrinological investigation2017

Determination of spermatic vein reflux after varicocele repair helps to define the efficacy of treatment in improving sperm parameters of subfertile men.

S D'Andrea, A Micillo, A Barbonetti, A V Giordano, S Carducci, A Mancini, S Necozione, F Francavilla, S Francavilla

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Journal of endocrinological investigation, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
3.6field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 19 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Effects of probiotic supplementation on semen parameters after varicocelectomy: A randomized controlled trial.Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences · 2023
    Article
  4. Review
  5. Recent Advances in Treatment of Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion.Obstetrical & gynecological survey · 2022
    Review
  6. Observational
  7. Treating varicocele in 2018: current knowledge and treatment options.Journal of endocrinological investigation · 2018
    Review
  8. Article
  9. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

S D'AndreaDepartment of Life, Health and Environment Sciences, Andrology Unit, University of L'Aquila, Piazzale Tommasi, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
A MicilloDepartment of Life, Health and Environment Sciences, Andrology Unit, University of L'Aquila, Piazzale Tommasi, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
A BarbonettiSan Raffaele Institute, Sulmona, Italy.
A V GiordanoUniversity Hospital San Salvatore, Interventional Radiology Unit, L'Aquila, Italy.
S CarducciUniversity Hospital San Salvatore, Interventional Radiology Unit, L'Aquila, Italy.
A ManciniUniversity Hospital San Salvatore, Interventional Radiology Unit, L'Aquila, Italy.
S NecozioneDepartment of Epidemiology, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
F FrancavillaDepartment of Life, Health and Environment Sciences, Andrology Unit, University of L'Aquila, Piazzale Tommasi, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
S FrancavillaDepartment of Life, Health and Environment Sciences, Andrology Unit, University of L'Aquila, Piazzale Tommasi, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy. sandro.francavilla@univaq.it.
University of L'Aquila · ITSan Salvatore Hospital · ITSan Raffaele University of Rome · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeA continuous spermatic venous reflux (SVR) at colour Doppler ultrasound (CDU) is an evidence for varicocele, a frequent correlate for male subfertility. We explored whether SVR after left varicocele repair is predictive for changes in semen quality in subfertile men.

methodsBlood hormones (FSH, LH, and total testosterone) and scrotal CDU were obtained in subfertile patients with left grade II or grade III varicocele on physical evaluation and a poor sperm quality. Semen analysis and CDU were re-evaluated 6 months after a retrograde internal spermatic vein scleroembolisation.

resultsThe retrospective study included 100 men with a baseline SVR >3 cm/s; 60 men showed a disappearance (group 1) and 40 men (group 2) showed a reduced SVR after varicocele repair. Total motile sperm count (TMC) was markedly increased after treatment (p < 0.0001; F = 35.79) and the increase was more relevant in group 1 compared to group 2 (p = 0.04; F = 4.20). TMC and left SVR values after varicocele repair were negatively correlated (R = -0.218; p = 0.035). Multivariate analysis showed that adjusted SVR after repair negatively predicted TMC change (TMC after repair minus baseline TMC) (ß = -2.56; p = 0.022). Disappearance of a continuous left SVR at CDU after varicocele repair was associated to a better improvement of semen parameters in subfertile men.

conclusionRecording of a continuous left spermatic vein reflux is an objective method to assess a successful varicocele repair aimed to improve sperm parameters in subfertile men.

Indexed as

Embolization, TherapeuticSemen AnalysisAdultFollow-Up StudiesHumansInfertility, MaleMaleRetrospective StudiesSpermatic CordTreatment OutcomeVaricoceleVeinsMale subfertilityScrotal colour Doppler ultrasoundSemen analysisSpermatic vein embolisationVaricocele

Identifiers

PMID28547739
OpenAlexW2617986810

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.