Abstract:
Background. Cryptorchidism is one of the surgically correctable diseases which
are replaced by laparoscopy. We report our results of this approach in patients with
nonpalpable testes (NPT).
Patients and methods. This is a retrospective study included 41 children aged 2-8
years presented to Sohag university hospital, Surgery department with NPT in the
period between January 2008 and June 2011 managed with laparoscopy for testes
localization, size of the cord, internal ring and further treatment.
Results. The study revealed that 19.5% of the included children had blind-ending cord
structures for which no further exploration was done. In 26.8% the vas and vessels were
found passing through an open internal inguinal ring, in which testes were found hypoplastic
and were left in place. In 14.3% the vessels and vas were found hypoplastic with closed
internal ring, no further exploration was done. Still 39% had intra-abdominal testes, 62.5% of
them were low and 37.5% were high for whom primary orchiopexy and two-step FowlerStephens procedures were performed, respectively. No complications encountered, with
satisfactory results in relation to size and location of the testes, and good morphology by
ultrasound.
Conclusion. Laparoscopic approach in management of NPT provides a safe, valid, and
better option than the conventional inguinal exploration.