MINIMALLY INVASIVE ORCHIDOPEXY - THE TRANSSCROTAL APPROACH

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 d istal inguinal position and no patient required conversion to an ingui nal approach. Forty-one of these patients attended for review at a med ian of 2.7 years (range 4 months-3.5 years). Just over a half of the p atients had required mild post-operative analgesia at home. Thirty-six boys (88%) had mobilized on the first post-operative day and the medi an 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 patien ts and the cosmetic result was excellent. We recommend transscrotal or chidopexy for undescended testes in the superficial inguinal pouch and distal inguinal canal while suggesting the inguinal approach for test es in the higher positions.