Minimally invasive orchidopexy: The transscrotal approach

Abstract

Summary. During the 3 year period, July 1989 to June 1992, 50 patients with 52 palpable undescended testes underwent orchidopexy by the transscrotal approach as a day case procedure. In each case the testis was in the distal inguinal position and no patient required conversion to an inguinal approach. Forty-one of these patients attended for review at a median of 2.7 years (range 4 months-3.5 years). Just over a half of the patients had required mild postoperative analgesia at home. Thirty-six boys (88%) had mobilized on the first post-operative day and the median period for return to normal activities was 4 days (range 2–14 days). Parents of all the patients expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the procedure. The testicular position was maintained in all patients and the cosmetic result was excellent. We recommend transscrotal orchidopexy for undescended testes in the superficial inguinal pouch and distal inguinal canal while suggesting the inguinal approach for testes in the higher positions.

Key Words:

• undescended testes
• cryptorchidism
• orchidopexy
• transscrotal approach