Are side effects always undesirable? Non-interventional study following treatment of varicose veins

Introduction: The endovenous thermal ablation of the great saphenous vein due to varicosis changes the blood circulation in the groin. This could affect the venous drainage of the penis, especially the drainage of the corpus spongiosum over the external pudendal vein. There are a few cases in our clinic until now which had an enhanced swelling of the glans penis beside an erection. Objective: Is the enhancement of penile swelling caused by the targeted thermal ablation of the GSV without affecting the saphenofemoral tributaries in the groin? Material and Methods: To verify this enhanced swelling of the glans penis and change in the erectile function we want to ask 56 patients with a modified IIEF questionnaire. The IIEF is a validated questionnaire with a additional question for the swelling of the glans. We check the reliability of the additional question with 16 healthy males. Possible results: Hypothesis 1 (H+): There is an improvement of the erectile function. Hypothesis 2 (H-): There is a decrease of the erectile function. Hypothesis 3 (H0): There is no change of the erectile function. Schedule: 1. Preliminary assessment: Sept. 2014: ethical approval, Reliability of the additional question. 2. Main assessment: Oct. 2014 to May 2016. 3. Analysis of the data: May 2016 to Aug. 2016 4. Report of data: August 2016.