Elsevier

Urology

Volume 85, Issue 6, June 2015, Pages 1466-1470
Urology

Pediatric Urology
Application of a Laparoscopic, Single-port, Double-needle Technique for Pediatric Hydroceles With Multiple Peritoneal Folds: A Trial From a Single-center 5-Year Experience

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urology.2015.01.053Get rights and content

Objective

To report our 5-year experience with a modified single-port, double-needle, minilaparoscopic technique for patent processus vaginalis with multiple peritoneal folds in the hydrocele sac orifice.

Methods

A total of 125 consecutive cases of boys with unilateral pediatric hydrocele underwent minilaparoscopic repair between June 2008 and June 2013. The patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 65 patients who underwent a 2-port laparoscopic procedure, during which a 3-mm grasping forceps was used to grasp the folds around the internal inguinal ring. Group 2 included 60 patients who received a modified single-port, double-needle, minilaparoscopic surgery. An Endo Close needle was used to spread the peritoneal folds and facilitate circular extraperitoneal suturing in group 2. The principal outcome factors were assessed between the groups.

Results

A total of 151 minilaparoscopic procedures were performed in 125 patients (age range, 12-68 months; median, 21.5 months). In total, 26 extra procedures were performed for simultaneous repair of a potential contralateral patent processus vaginalis. No significant difference in operation time was noted between group 1 and group 2 (25.9 ± 6.4 vs 27.1 ± 5.5 minutes). The procedures were performed successfully without serious preoperative complications. During a median follow-up period of 18 months (range, 6-36 months), no postoperative hydrocele recurrence was encountered.

Conclusion

Our limited experience suggests that the modified single-port, double-needle, minilaparoscopic technique could be safe, effective, and more cosmetically appealing for the management of complicated pediatric hydroceles.

Section snippets

Methods

Institutional review board approval was obtained before the initiation of the study. A total of 125 consecutive male children with a mean age of 22.3 months (range, 12-68 months) and with multiple peritoneal folds (≥2 folds) intraoperatively observed near the hydrocele sac orifice were included in this study, which was conducted between June 2008 and June 2013. Information regarding formal informed consent for the operation was provided by an interpreter, and permission was obtained from the

Results

Successful procedures were achieved in all the patients. No conversion occurred in either group, and no serious complications, such as damage to the vas deferens and the gonadal vessels, severe postoperative infection, or hemorrhage, were noted. Detailed operation parameters and the distinctive baseline characteristics of the patients are summarized in Table 1. The median patient age was 22.3 months (range, 12-68 months). The patients were divided into the following 5 subgroups according to

Comment

PPVs are a common cause of pediatric hydroceles, which occur in approximately 60% of infants.5 An indirect inguinal hernia has the potential to develop, and the more patent the processus vaginalis appears, the more likely the patient is to develop a hernia. PPVs can close spontaneously; spontaneous closure typically occurs in patients younger than 1 year of age as a result of ongoing PPV changes.6 No relevant literature is available regarding the exact timing of surgery for a child with a

Conclusion

In our study, we evaluated a single-port double-needle technique as an option for the extraperitoneal ligation of PPV in complicated pediatric hydroceles. Compared with the 2-port procedure, this technique leads to enhanced cosmetic outcomes. Moreover, the technique is feasible, safe, and effective.

References (15)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (12)

View all citing articles on Scopus

Yonghui Peng and Canqiang Li contributed equally to this study.

This study was approved by the institutional review board of the Affiliated Hexian Memorial Hospital of Southern Medical University.

Financial Disclosure: The authors declare that they have no relevant financial interests.

View full text