TRANS-SCROTAL APPROACH FOR SURGICAL-CORRECTION OF CRYPTORCHIDISM AND CONGENITAL-ANOMALIES OF THE PROCESSUS-VAGINALIS

Objectives: Surgery of the inguinal canal is the most common practice in pediatric urology. Recently, the trans-scrotal approach has been de scribed for orchidopexy of palpable undescended testes. The aim of thi s paper is to report our experience with this technique, emphasizing b oth the advantages and the disadvantages with respect to the usual app roach. Methods: Over a period of 2 years, we used the trans-scrotal ap proach in 85 children with cryptorchidism, hydrocele and inguinal hern ia. The scrotal incision was combined vertical and horizontal. Results : All children with hernia and hydrocele were cured without complicati ons. Among the cryptorchids, 3 children required an additional groin i ncision to complete the procedure, 3 experienced postoperative hematom a, 2 had mild testicular hypotrophy, and 1 recurrent cryptorchidism at follow-up. Conclusion: Most palpable undescended testes can be succes sfully treated by this operation. However, the dissection of the proce ssus vaginalis from the cord below the external ring is time-consuming , requires more skill, and exposes to more complications. Conversely, the results are excellent in hydroceles.