Biomechanical properties of the internal spermatic vein in the normal population and patients with left-sided varicocele testis.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate a possible decreased strength of the wall of the left internal spermatic vein between patients with varicocele testis and controls. From 14 patients with varicocele testis, 2 cm of the vein was obtained during operation per varicocele and compared to samples of the left internal spermatic vein taken from the same anatomical localization of 19 patients with no varicocele testis or other conditions with relation to the scrotum; additionally, samples from the right internal spermatic vein similar to those described above were taken from 12 patients. The biomechanical properties of ring-shaped venous specimens were investigated by loading the specimens at a constant deformation rate until rupture. The regression coefficient, standard error and p value revealed no significant differences in ID (diameter), UC (unit collagen/ID), E-max (ultimate extensibility), Max (maximum strength), Tan-a (maximum stiffness), E-fail (relative failure energy). The trend to significance was shown in ID between the varicocele and left-sided veins (p = 0.05) and between left- and right-sided veins (p = 0.05). These biomechanical tests of the spermatic veins from healthy subjects and patients operated for varicocele showed that biomechanical differences were associated with age and could play a part in the development of varicocele testis in an age-matched group.