The Evaluation of Laparoscopic Orchiopexy on the Treatment of Non-palpable Undescended Testes

Abstract

Objectives: Cryptorchidism is the most frequent birth anomaly in boys with 2-5% prevalence in full term infants. This anomaly is associated with an increased risk of testicular cancer and infertility as well as hernia, testicular torsion, and psychological distress. Surgery is the main treatment for this anomaly. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of laparoscopic orchiopexy in the treatment of non-palpable undescended testis. Methods: Forty patients with a non-palpable testis were evaluated by laparoscopic orchiopexy in a hospital in Hamedan city, Iran, during 2006 to 2009. The average age of patients was 19±12.16 months old. The patients were followed up after the surgery and three months later to assess the response to treatment and the testicular atrophy. Results: Thirteen patients did not have a testis in the laparoscopic investigation and six patients had testis located in the inguinal canal. So they were excluded from the analysis. Seventeen patients were treated by one-staged laparoscopic orchiopexy while four patients were treated by two-staged Fowler-Stephens laparoscopic orchiopexy. The success rate for the treatment was 100%. Conclusion: Laparoscopic orchiopexy is a safe and effective method for the treatment of non-palpable undescended testis.