Definition During pregnancy, the testicles develop inside the abdomen of the foetus. Normally, they descend into the scrotum before birth or within the first year of life. If this does not occur, the condition is known as undescended testicle. A repair operation is then done to move the testicle to its proper place.
Who is a candidate for the procedure? This procedure is performed on a male who has a functioning testicle that has not descended into the scrotum, either on its own or with medical treatment.
How is the procedure performed? The surgery can be performed under general anaesthesia or regional anaesthesia. General anaesthesia means the person is put to sleep with medications. Regional anaesthesia means the person will be awake, but numb below the waist. A medication may be given to make the person relax.
If the testicle can be felt under the skin of the groin, the surgical procedure is relatively simple. One cut is made in the groin and another is made in the scrotum. The testicle is brought down into the scrotum and secured with stitches. If the testicle cannot be felt, the surgeon will perform the operation using laparoscopy. This involves inserting a small, lighted telescope into the abdominal cavity. This enables the surgeon to locate the testicle. The testicle can then be moved to the scrotum and secured there. The incision is closed and a sterile dressing is applied.
What happens right after the procedure? After the surgery, the person will be taken to the surgery recovery room to be watched closely for a short time. Vital signs, blood pressure, pulse, and breathing will be checked frequently. A bulky bandage and a scrotal support may be applied. Some discomfort may be experienced. Analgesia is given to decrease the discomfort. Simple testicle repair operations can be performed on an outpatient basis in a same day surgery centre. More complex procedures may require an overnight hospital stay.
What happens later at home? The wound needs to be cleaned gently and the bandages changed. The man can gradually resume his normal activities as comfort permits. The recovery time is brief for most types of undescended testicle repair.
What are the potential complications after the procedure? There are complications with any surgery or anaesthesia. These include bleeding, infection, and allergic reactions to the anaesthesia medications.
Author: Stuart Wolf, MD Reviewer: eknowhow Medical Review Panel Editor: Dr John Hearne Last Updated: 12/06/2005 Contributors Potential conflict of interest information for reviewers available on request
