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Intratesticular Artery Resistive Index Changes After Varicocelectomy

NCT07517952 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 40

Last updated 2026-04-08

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This study aims to evaluate how blood flow inside the testicles changes after surgery to correct a varicocele, and whether these changes correlate with improvements in semen quality and testosterone levels.

Varicocele is a common, treatable cause of male infertility that can negatively affect testicular function by altering blood flow and temperature. While surgery (varicocelectomy) often improves fertility, doctors are continually looking for ways to predict which patients will benefit the most from the procedure. This study uses scrotal color Doppler ultrasound to measure the Intratesticular Artery Resistive Index (RI), which is an indicator of blood flow resistance and microvascular health, before and after surgery.

Researchers will recruit 40 infertile men with clinically palpable varicoceles. Participants will undergo a baseline evaluation that includes a physical exam, semen analysis, a blood test for total testosterone, and a specialized ultrasound to measure the RI under different physical conditions (lying down, standing, and during a Valsalva maneuver/bearing down).

All participants will then undergo a microscopic sub-inguinal varicocelectomy, which is the standard microsurgical treatment. Three months after the surgery, participants will return for follow-up testing to repeat the semen analysis, testosterone blood test, and ultrasound.

The main goal of the study is to determine if pre-operative RI measurements can serve as an early, reliable predictor of surgical success, specifically looking at the recovery of testicular function, sperm parameters, and hormonal levels.

Conditions

  • Varicocele
  • Male Infertility
  • Secondary Hypogonadism

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Microscopic Sub-inguinal Varicocelectomy

The procedure involves making a sub-inguinal incision just below the external inguinal ring. Using an operating microscope, the spermatic cord is carefully isolated and systematically dissected. All internal spermatic veins are identified and ligated. Meticulous care is taken to preserve the testicular artery and its branches, the cremasteric artery, the vasal artery, the vas deferens, and lymphatic vessels to minimize the risk of post-operative complications such as hydrocele formation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Assiut University

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
MALE
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-05-31
Primary Completion
2027-05-31
Completion
2027-06-30

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07517952 on ClinicalTrials.gov