Laparoscopic vs Open Orchiopexy for Palpable Undescended Testis in Children

Abstract

ryptorchidism is the absence of one or both testes in the scrotum and is generally synonymous with undescended testis. Undescended testis is the most common genital disorder identified at birth. Undescended testes occur in 1–3% of full-term and up to 45% of preterm male neonates. Approximately 80% of undescended testes are clinically palpable and 20% are non-palpable The main reasons for treatment of undescended testis (UDT) include increased potential risk of testicular malignancy, infertility, testicular torsion and associated inguinal hernia. Laparoscopy used for the diagnosis and treatment of nonpalpable intra-abdominal cryptorchidism has been universally accepted in clinical practice, while the inguinal palpable cryptorchidism is tended to the traditional typical open inguinal orchiopexy. However, there are some conspicuous defects in this surgical procedure; firstly, the conventional inguinal incision is not easy to be adequately exposed, and it is likely to damage the testicular blood supply when separating the retroperitoneal spermatic cord vessels, which increases the risk of postoperative testicular atrophy.