Video Telescopic Operating Microscope (VITOM) Versus Loupe- Assisted Varicocelectomy

October 29, 2026 updated by: Mohamed Ahmed Galal Mahmoud, Cairo University

Comparative Study Between Video Telescopic Operating Microscope (VITOM) and Loupe- Assisted Varicocelectomy (Randomized Controlled Trial)

This study aims to compare the efficacy, outcome and surgeon satisfaction in Video Telescopic Operating Microscope (VITOM) microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy with Loupe- assisted subinguinal varicocelectomy.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Varicocele is a common medical condition characterized by abnormal dilation and enlargement of the scrotal venous pampiniform plexus, which drains blood from the testicles resulting in complex network of swollen regurging veins.

There are different approaches in varicocelectomy; open surgical inguinal , subinguinal or intrascrotal ,which can be conventional open surgery or by using surgical microscope or Video Telescopic Operating Microscope (VITOM) or Loupeassisted. Also varicocelectomy can be done by laparoscopic retroperitoneal abdominal ligation of gonadal veins or endovascular approach using antegrade sclerotherapy. Improved semen parameters and fewer complications are noticed, when magnification has been used. Magnification can be done using surgical microscope or VITOM or Loupe-assisted.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
60

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Egypt
      • Cairo, Egypt, 12613
        • Recruiting
        • Cairo University
        • Contact:
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Ahmed M ElFeel, MD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Amr M Sayed, MD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Mohamed A Ateya, MD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Ahmed S Elsayed, MD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 60 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age: male patients from 18 - 60 years.
  • Males with grade II or III varicocele (unilateral or bilateral).
  • Males complaining of scrotal swelling or pain not responding to medical treatment.
  • Infertile males with impaired semen parameters.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with subclinical varicocele or grade 1 varicocele.
  • Acute urogenital infection.
  • Patients with hypogonadism (hypogonadotrophic or hypergonadotrophic)
  • Patients with hyperprolactenemia.
  • Patient with small testicular volume.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Group A

Patients will be managed using video telescopic operating microscope (VITOM).
Device: Video telescopic operating microscope

Patients will be managed using video telescopic operating microscope (VITOM).
Experimental: Group B

Patients will be managed using Loupe with magnification 4x.
Device: Loupe with magnification 4x

Patients will be managed using Loupe with magnification 4x.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Total Motile Sperm Count
Time Frame: 3 months after surgery

Total motile sperm count (TMSC), expressed as millions of motile sperm per ejaculate, will be assessed by semen analysis. TMSC will be calculated by multiplying semen volume (mL) by sperm concentration (million/mL) and the proportion of motile sperm.
3 months after surgery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Scrotal Pain Intensity
Time Frame: 3 months after surgery

Scrotal pain will be assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
3 months after surgery
Scrotal Swelling
Time Frame: 3 months after surgery

Number of participants with scrotal swelling will be assessed by clinical examination.
3 months after surgery
Surgeon Satisfaction With the Visualization Device
Time Frame: Immediately after surgery (with in one hour)

Surgeon-reported assessment using the protocol's 13-item questionnaire covering image quality, equipment handling, ergonomics, and educational usefulness. Each item is rated on a five-point scale.
Immediately after surgery (with in one hour)
Erectile Function
Time Frame: 3 months after surgery

Erectile function will be assessed using the five-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). As presented in the protocol, total scores range from 5 to 25, with higher scores indicating better erectile function.
3 months after surgery
Serum Total Testosterone
Time Frame: 3 months after surgery

Serum total testosterone concentration will be measured by laboratory testing and compared between treatment groups.
3 months after surgery
Varicocele Recurrence
Time Frame: 3 months after surgery

Number of participants with recurrent varicocele will be assessed clinically at follow-up, with scrotal duplex ultrasonography performed at 3 months.
3 months after surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Cairo University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
November 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
November 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
November 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 29, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 29, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 4, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 4, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 29, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • MD-372-2025 (11-3-2026)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

The data will be available upon a reasonable request from the corresponding author after the end of study for one year.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

After the end of study for one year.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

The data will be available upon a reasonable request from the corresponding author.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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