Orchiopexy
What is Orchiopexy?
The testicles are male gonads that are enclosed in a sac called the scrotum. They are normally formed in the abdominal region and descend into the scrotum just before birth. When the testicles fail to reach the normal position in the scrotum, it leads to a condition called undescended testicles. Undescended testicles can lead to injury, infertility or cancer. Orchiopexy is a surgical procedure that involves moving an undescended testicle into the scrotum. It is commonly performed in children of age 6 to 15 months.
Procedure of Orchiopexy
Orchiopexy is conducted under general anesthesia, in an outpatient setting. It can be performed by open surgery or by minimally invasive laparoscopy, where a narrow lighted tube with a camera is inserted to give your child’s surgeon a clear view of the surgical site. At first, the location of the undescended testicle is identified. One small incision is made in the groin to access the testicle. The testicle is normally suspended in the scrotum by an artery. An abnormally short artery sometimes leads to an undescended testicle. During orchiopexy, the artery is freed from the surrounding tissues so that it can stretch to its full length. Next, a small incision is made in the scrotum to draw the testicles into it. The position is secured with stitches and the incisions are closed.
As with all surgeries, orchiopexy may be associated with potential risks such as bleeding, infection, damage to the blood supply and vas deferens (the tube through which sperm exit the testicles) and re-ascending of the testicles (testicle moves out of the scrotum again).