Varicocele Embolization at Dr. Sandeep Sharma’s IR Facilities: A Cutting-Edge Approach with BRTO Using Glue and Setrol

At Dr. Sandeep Sharma’s Interventional Radiology (IRFacilities, the treatment of varicoceles has reached new levels of precision and efficacy with an advanced embolization technique known as Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration (BRTO). Utilizing modern embolic agents like glue and petrol, this innovative procedure offers significant advantages over traditional surgical methods, such as microscopic varicocelectomy, Paloma’s technique, and other open surgeries. Dr. Sharma’s vast experience and expertise in neuro-intervention and body intervention ensure that patients receive top-tier care with minimal risk and excellent outcomes.

What is Varicocele and Why Treat It?

A varicocele is an abnormal enlargement of veins within the scrotum, specifically in the pampiniform plexus, that can lead to discomfort, testicular pain, and, in some cases, fertility issues. Approximately 15% of men are affected by varicoceles, and it remains one of the leading causes of male infertility. While some patients may not experience symptoms, those who do often seek treatment to alleviate pain, prevent testicular damage, or improve fertility.

Conventional treatment options have largely revolved around open surgical techniques, including microscopic varicocelectomy and Paloma’s technique. These methods involve either ligating or physically removing the affected veins, but they come with inherent risks such as infection, hydrocele formation, and recurrence. The recovery times can also be significant, making patients increasingly open to less invasive options.

The BRTO with Glue and Setrol Evolution of Understanding Within The Interventional Radiology Field: Dr. Sharma’s BRTO Procedure.

Though not 100% effective in preventing the regrowth of untreated varicosities, the BRTO technique pioneered by Dr Sandeep Sharma and his colleagues at IRFacilities has integrated this method, as it provides a treatment that is better in precision and less invasive. The introduction of a commercialized vascular glue known as setrol with sclerosant is done through a catheter placed in the diseased vein. A systematic explanation of this removal process is depicted below.

1. Balloon Occlusion: As a preliminary measure before introducing a bulb into a patient’s urogenital system, a low-risk catheter bearing a bulb is inserted into a femoral or cervical vein using percutaneous access. The balloon is then inflated to block the vein, keeping the sclerosant and glue inside the varicocele for the duration of the procedure. 

2. Strain-Induced Retrograde Filling: After the balloon has been inflated and venous outflow obstructed, the patient is asked to perform a Valsalva maneuver (straining). This increases the pressure within the abdomen and forces the blood into the varicocele veins in the opposite direction. This helps to make sure the sclerosant also goes to the farthest segment of the varicocele veins which is why it improves the outcome of the treatment.

3. Sclerosant Injection: A sclerosant, usually Setrol, is injected into the target veins to occlude them. Sclerosants work by chemically irritating the inner walls of veins, causing fibrosis and eventual obliteration of the patent vessel with scar tissue.

4. Glue Embolization of Proximal Veins: Following the action of the sclerosant, glue is placed within the proximal segment of veins. This occludes the primary venous drainage to the varicocele and prevents any further flow towards it. The glue provides a definitive cure for the varicocele as it anatomically occludes the blood vessels permanently.

How BRTO with Glue and Setrol Differs From The Surgical Techniques.

1. Invasive Degree: 

Surgical methods such as microscopic varicocelectomy or procedures like Paloma’s are invasive, making them unsuitable. The BRTO procedure only uses a small simultaneous puncture site for catheter introduction. It eliminates large cuttings or open wounds, so there are very few chances of infections, scarring, and conditions such as hydrocele. 

2. Precision Targeting: 

With the help of BRTO, Dr. Sharma can pinpoint the precise area of the varicocele with utmost accuracy. As the procedure is done, advanced imaging helps to ensure that the sclerosant and the glue are placed exactly where they should be. This minimizes recurrence, a potential threat in surgical treatments where the patient cannot be sure veins that caused issues before surgery will not be able to do so anymore after all the desired procedures are done. 

3. Faster Recovery Time: 

Everyone knows that surgery has a much more significant impact on the patient than BRTO, allowing it to be performed in practically all cases. Surgery such as varicocelectomy in some patients may take weeks or even months for full recovery, while after undergoing BRTO most patients can go back to their daily routines after a couple of days. The procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis in most cases which is a further step to lessen the traveller’s burden. 

4. Decreased Complication Rate: 

Burning and cutting surgeries like that of the BRTO methodology have complications like infection, atrophy of testis, or the development of a hydrocele (buildup of fluid in the scrotum). The BRTO technique avoids this complication by being non-invasive and does not require any tissue manipulation. Furthermore, it is less likely that successful therapy will be incomplete and result in recurrence owing to the accuracy afforded by the catheter-based technique.

5. Avoiding General Anesthesia:

Various surgical techniques such as microscopic varicocelectomy demand general anesthesia, which poses extra risks and adds to the recovery time of the patient. On the other hand, BRTO is usually done under local anesthesia or mild sedation meaning there are no associated risks of anesthesia and thus a safer option, especially in patients who may have other medical problems. Why Dr. Sandeep Sharma's BRTO Technique will take over as the Most Preferred Varicocele Treatment Method.

There is no doubt that Dr. Sandeep Sharma’s ingenious application of the BRTO technique with glue and setrol is an advantage to patients suffering from varicocele. This is because patients will receive the best possible treatment without any form of hassle or danger, with a quick healing process and a permanent resolution to the problem. BRTO is a treatment to which many would attribute the future of treatment of varicocele where safety and comfort of the patient are the main concerns unlike in the traditional surgical methods which usually are much more involved and complication-prone. 

Patients who select Dr. Sharma’s IR Facilities can take advantage of his vast experience along with the latest imaging technology and promise of modern embolization products for the best results possible. BRTO, using glue and setrol, is a much preferable solution for men who wish to treat varicocele without invasive surgery than open surgical methods.