SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF CYSTIC SWELLINGS OF THE SCROTUM UNDER LOCAL-ANESTHESIA

Fifty-one patients underwent surgery for symptomatic epididymal cysts or hydroceles, using local anaesthesia with no sedation and no diather my. Of the patients surveyed, 91% found the procedure comfortable or u ncomfortable, 9% finding it painful. Most patients (89%) were fully re covered after 3 weeks. None of the patients had to have operative inte rvention for complications. Treatment of these conditions under local anaesthesia is cost-effective, and can be performed with the minimum o f special equipment on patients who might otherwise be unfit for a gen eral anaesthetic.