Laparoscopy-Assisted Transscrotal Orchidopexy for Palpable Undescended Testis: Initial Results

Background: Undescended testis (UDT) is one of the most common congenital genital malformations in boys. However, orchidopexy carries a risk of injuring the testicular vessels and vas deferens. We therefore developed a novel approach to manage palpable UDT. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the medical records of patients who underwent orchidopexy at our institute between January 2017 and April 2020. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of our hospital. The age, body weight, laterality, testicular position, length of operation, and complications were investigated. The patients were classified into two groups depending on the surgery received: laparoscopy-assisted transscrotal orchidopexy (LATO) or conventional inguinal orchidopexy (CO). In brief, LATO involves preceding laparoscopic closure of the patent processus vaginalis (PPV) followed by transscrotal orchidopexy. Dissection of the PPV from the testicular vessels and vas deferens was minimized through this procedure. The chi-squared test and t-test were used to analyze the significance of the data. Results: Among a total of 49 patients, 24 (33 testes) underwent LATO, and 25 (30 testes) underwent CO. There was no significant difference in patients' age, body weight, or laterality. The length of operation was similar between the groups in both unilateral and bilateral cases. The contralateral PPV was confirmed in 80% of unilateral cases of LATO (12/15). No complications, including testicular atrophy and postoperative ascent, were noted in either group. Conclusions: There were no significant differences between the groups in the surgical results. However, the confirmation and ligation of the PPV were easier in LATO, and peeling of the testicular vessels and vas deferens was minimized. LATO may be safe and effective for managing palpable UDT.