WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: What do I need to know about a spermatic vein ligation? A spermatic vein ligation is surgery to repair a varicocele. A spermatic vein ligation helps improve blood flow and decrease vein swelling. This may help improve the flow of sperm and improve fertility. How do I prepare for a spermatic vein ligation? Your healthcare provider will talk to you about how to prepare for surgery. He may tell you not to eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of your surgery. He will tell you what medicines to take or not take on the day of your surgery. What will happen during a spermatic vein ligation? You may be given general anesthesia to keep you asleep and free from pain during surgery. You may instead be given local anesthesia to numb the surgery area. With local anesthesia, you may still feel pressure or pushing during surgery, but you should not feel any pain. Your surgeon will make an incision in your groin or abdomen. He will locate the spermatic veins. Your surgeon will cut or tie off the blocked and dilated veins. He will check the blood flow and close the incision with stitches. You may also have medical tape or a bandage in place. What are the risks of spermatic vein ligation? You may bleed more than expected or develop an infection. Your surgeon may need to make a larger incision instead of one or more small incisions. Your varicocele may not go away, or may return. You may develop swelling in your scrotum, around the testicle. Your testicles may decrease in size and your fertility may be decreased. Your pain may return. |