Urology

Urology Treatments

Hydrocele

It usually occurs from birth and progresses over time. Physical examination shows that when the abdominal mass is compressed, the scrotal mass is enlarged and vice versa.

Hydrocele

Definition

What is hydrocele?

It is the collection of fluid between the visceral and parietal layers of the tunica vaginalis of the testicle, which may or may not be with the peritoneal cavity. The testicles have this serous membrane, which is made up of two layers, in which there is a fluid with lubricating and shock-absorbing functions. In the hydrocele, an abnormal accumulation of fluid is produced in this pseudocavity.

Healthy testicle

Hydrocele

It is a benign process, very common in newborns but it also occurs in the adult population.

Hydrocele

Treatment Summary

This is short summary of the whole process: from the appointment request, to receiving the medical discharge after the treatment in some our Andromedi centers in Madrid, Seville or Canary islands (Tenerife)

Consultations Needed

A single medical consultation is necessary to confirm the diagnosis but if surgical treatment is decided upon, at least one additional consultation will be necessary.

Anesthesia Type

Local, but often used in conjunction with the administration of a general moderate sedative to help the patient sleep peacefully.

Hospital Stay

After surgery, most patients are able to go home after 24 hours. It is considered a fairly safe surgery.

Operation Time

Hydrocele surgery is fairly quick, but can be extended depending on the degree of fluid buildup in the scrotal sac.

Post-operative

The patient should rest at home for 4-5 days, taking care not to perform demanding physical activities such as jumping or heavy lifting.

Further Tips

At the slightest sign of pain, swelling or edema of the scrotal sac during sex, the male should go to the emergency physician.

Medical evaluation

Classification

Congenital: within the congenital hydroceles we have:

Communicating hydrocele

It is produced by an incomplete closure of the tunica vaginalis during growth, maintaining communication with the peritoneal cavity. This causes the liquid to flow from the abdomen into the scrotum and vice versa.

On examination, it can be seen how this accumulation of fluid can increase in size during crying, Valsalva manoeuvre or straining and fluctuates during the day and night.

It usually appears in children older than one year, after some action that has increased their intra-abdominal pressure. It does not heal spontaneously, for this reason, the solution is surgical since its persistence could alter the testicle by compression or become an inguinal-scrotal hernia.

Non-communicating hydrocele

This is the most frequent hydrocele, it is produced when the tunica vaginalis closes with a large amount of liquid from the peritoneal cavity and this is not absorbed, it is typical of newborns, in most children it heals spontaneously before the first year of life since the liquid trapped between the two layers of the testicular tunica vaginalis is reabsorbed and there is no communication with the peritoneal cavity.

Acquired or primary hydrocele

This is an idiopathic hydrocele that has no known cause. It is attributed to an imbalance between the capacity of the visceral and parietal layers of the tunica vaginalis to secrete and reabsorb; it usually occurs in older adults.

Secondary hydrocele

it occurs as a consequence of a traumatic or infectious event at the testicular level, such as inguinal hernia, inguinal surgery, Filariasis, epididymitis, orchitis and other traumatic causes.

Hydrocele or cord cyst

It is formed by a very thin persistence of the peritoneal vaginal duct, which causes a collection of liquid in the inguinal duct, which does not affect the testicle. Clinically, it is observed as a mobile, round, irreducible and painless mass in the upper part of the scrotum or in the inguinal canal, and generally appears during the first months of life.

Abdominal-scrotal hydrocele

this is a type of hydrocele with a very low incidence, which consists of a collection of fluid at scrotal level but which is continued through the inguinal canal and the abdominal cavity.

It is usually present from birth and progresses over time. Upon physical examination, it can be seen that compression of the abdominal mass produces enlargement of the scrotal mass and vice versa.

Its solution is surgical, due to the compressive nature of the hydrocele to the testicular mass.

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FREQUENT CAUSES

Risk factors and causes

symptomatology

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of this condition are:

Swelling and heaviness: the patient may present a mass that is usually smooth, soft and insensitive.
Frequently this swelling is painless and can cause discomfort for daily activities or during sexual activity, especially when the accumulation of fluid is big. The presence of pain requires an urgent medical check-up, as it could be due to cases of hydrocele associated with infection, testicular torsion.
In case of a communicating hydrocele, the fluctuation in the size of the scrotal sac is observed as a sign. The sac usually becomes smaller at night when it is resting and increases in size during the day and activity.

Medical test

Diagnosis

For the diagnosis of hydrocele, it is important to begin with the interview and physical examination.

The patient’s traumatic and pathological history and the presence of risk factors should be known.

On examination, the scrotum will be observed to be enlarged, tightened, and with shiny skin, the involvement may be of the entire scrotal sac or of a single hemi-scrotum, palpation of the testicle may be very difficult due to the amount of fluid accumulated.

Non-communicating hydrocele is suspected when on physical examination, we find an increase in scrotal volume that is painless, irreducible and when the transillumination test is positive.

The technique of testicular transillumination consists of applying a source of light beneath the scrotal sac and observing whether or not there is transparency of the scrotal sac. In this way, it is possible to differentiate between solid tumours and liquid collections, when light easily passes through the testicle and is considered positive, suggesting that the contents are liquid, giving an image of red illumination. However, when the contents are solid tumours, it does not allow the passage of light and is considered negative. To carry out this exploration, it is recommended that the lights in the room be switched off.

A communicating hydrocele may be considered when there is a history of fluctuation in the size of the testicular mass. This is usually greater during the day, while activities are being performed, and decreases with nighttime rest.

On physical examination, a reducible scrotal fluid is found, which is bright, translucent and non-painful. As the diagnosis of hydrocele in infants and children is suspected, the presence of indirect inguinal hernia must also be ruled out, since it is very common for these pathologies to coexist.

When a painless and transilluminable mass is observed along the path of the spermatic cord, it should be considered a hydrocele or cord cyst.

In cases of abdominal-scrotal hydrocele, it is recommended to investigate the presence of other testicular pathologies since this is associated in many cases with lymphedema, cryptorchidism, appendicitis, testicular ectopy and malignant paratesticular mesothelioma. In addition to evaluating the damage to other adjacent organs by compression, it is recommended to perform an ultrasound in the abdominal and scrotal region, where you will find a cystic mass with homogeneous anechoic content and hourglass appearance

Scrotal ultrasound remains an excellent complementary tool which can be used by a trained medical team at a primary care level, this study will help in the following cases:

Conventional ultrasound combined with Doppler has shown great utility in evaluating different testicular lesions and perfusion, and also helps to distinguish the hydrocele from varicocele and testicular torsion, since these conditions can occur alone and associated with hydrocele.

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Differential diagnosis

There are other pathological conditions that can simulate the same signs and symptoms of hydrocele, and for which the doctor will have to establish a differential diagnosis, being these

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Madrid

Sevilla

Canarias

TECHNIQUES AND TREATMENTS

Treatment

The therapeutic options and behaviours will depend on the type of hydrocele that the patient presents and its condition. In cases of non-communicating congenital hydrocele, it is recommended a watchful waiting if there is no discomfort and no aesthetic repercussions, as the hydrocele usually disappears and the liquid is reabsorbed before the age of two in 80% of cases.

Watchful waiting can also be used in those cases of asymptomatic idiopathic hydrocele.

Like patients with asymptomatic idiopathic hydrocele, who have a minimum volume of fluid and are not under stress.

Surgical solution and that we carry out in our Andromedi centres in Madrid, Seville and the Canary Islands (Tenerife), is recommended in the following cases:

The surgical approach will also depend on the type of hydrocele, the inguinal approach is recommended in cases of spermatic cord hydrocele and communicating hydrocele associated with inguinal hernia and abdominal-scrotal hydrocele, otherwise, the scrotal route is suggested when dealing with non-communicating hydrocele.

In the majority of cases local anaesthesia is used, making an incision at scrotal level, preferably transversal when the involvement is in a single testicle, no larger than 3 or 4 centimetres, trying to respect the scrotal vessels, which are visible through transparency. In cases of bilateral hydrocele, a longitudinal incision is recommended on the medial raphe, which allows a single access and bilateral approach. The transverse scrotal incision, made in the skin folds, helps to minimize bleeding and has better aesthetic results, as it is hidden by the folds.

During surgery the surgeon can perform the following techniques:

Andrews' technique

Through the scrotal route, the tunica vaginalis is accessed, dissected and resected. It is used in long evolution hydroceles with thick walls.

Lord's technique

A plication of the tunica vaginalis is performed after partial eversion, liquid aspiration and coagulation of the surface of the tunica vaginalis are performed.

Jaboulay technique

in this technique, the tunica vaginalis is dissected and inverted.

The laparoscopic technique has the advantage of offering better direct observation of the internal inguinal ring, reducing the risk of iatrogenic damage to the cord and scrotal contents, which reduces recurrence. It is recommended to be used in hydrocele with persistence of the vaginal peritoneum process, recurrent hydrocele and suspected bilateral hydrocele.

Sclerotherapy: It is a minimally invasive technique, which does not require anaesthesia, where transillumination is used to locate an area of the scrotum that is not very vascularized, the puncture of the sac is performed with a needle and all the liquid is carefully evacuated, and then about 2ml polidocanol at 3% is inoculated. It is a method that has gained acceptance for having a rapid recovery, low morbidity, besides being economical.

Other sclerosing agents have also been used, such as Tetracycline, Quinacrine, Fibrin, Tetradecyl Sulfate, Rolitetracycline, Talc, Phenol, Ethanolamine Oleate, Antazoline, and lately those that have shown better results, Iodopovidone and Polidocanol.

Complications

There are few complications that can occur with a hydrocelectomy, such as:

Haematoma or Bleeding: during or after the operation, bleeding may occur, which when extended through the scrotal sac may produce a hematoma. Depending on the size and condition of the patient, it is evaluated whether a reoperation is necessary to stop the bleeding or to drain the haematoma.
Problems in surgical wound healing.
Sensitivity alterations, hypo or hypersensitivity in the scrotal area.
Signs of infection in the operated area, such as fever, swelling and redness of the scrotum or loss of fluid from the surgical wound, in these cases it will be necessary to be evaluated by the treating physician to start treatment with antibiotics.
Testicular atrophy occurs after surgery for vascular and testicular tissue injuries during the operation. Frequently Asked

Frequently asked questions at the Andromedi centres in Madrid, Seville and Tenerife

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My son was operated in another clinic and the result has not been satisfactory. Does he have the option of a second operation?

Some cases of hypospadias may reappear a few months after being operated on, with the appearance of fistulas usually the main setback. It is possible to re-intervene with a good prognosis in most of such cases, but we must always assess the patient’s condition carefully because each new intervention adds instability in the tissues of the affected area. You can only enter the operating room again after a substantial period of time and the reasons why the previous one was not successful must be well analyzed. This explains why the knowledge and analytical capacity of an experienced team such as ours are basic aspects to be taken into account by the parents. In other words, it is a surgery that must be performed by a medical team of proven ability.

Is this pathology covered by Social Security or is it usually done in the field of private medicine?

In Spain, all the cases usually have public medical coverage by the state or regional service. However, there are many parents who prefer to go to private medical centers (whether they have medical insurance or not) regardless of the price. This choice which often involves a cost on the family finances is usually guided by two main reasons. The first is the freedom to choose the professional doctor and the second is to shorten the waiting periods which are sometimes quite lengthy. Both are important issues to take into account since the successful correction of hypospadias depends a lot on the expertise and experience of the surgeon, and it is a condition that needs to be addressed with some urgency i.e. in the first months of the child’s life (before 15 months).

Does the intervention have repercussions on the development (size, length or thickness) of my child’s penis in the future? And is there any impact on erection, ejaculation, orgasm or fertility?

After a well planned and executed intervention, the resulting phalloplasty leaves the penis of the child without any present or future sexual or urinary problems. So, it is perfectly prepared for its development at puberty without any type of sequela. This further highlights the importance of choosing the surgical team since it is a very sensitive operation that could end up with setbacks in the future if not executed perfectly.

I had mild hypospadias. Is it hereditary? Can it be passed genetically to my future children?

Indeed, there is a certain predisposition for family genetic inheritance. This does not mean that in 100% of cases it is guaranteed that their offspring will have this anomaly, but there is a chance of them having it. Dr. Pedro Lopez Pereira, renowned urologist who has treated hundreds of patients in his long experience at the Hospital Universitario La Paz in the Community of Madrid is the head of our Pediatric Unit and the person who performs all interventions and follows up with the results.

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Urology

Urology Treatments

Hydrocele

Hydrocele

Table of Contents

Definition

What is hydrocele?

It is a benign process, very common in newborns but it also occurs in the adult population.

Hydrocele

Treatment Summary

Consultations Needed

Anesthesia Type

Hospital Stay

Operation Time

Post-operative

Further Tips

Medical evaluation

Classification

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FREQUENT CAUSES

Risk factors and causes

symptomatology

Symptoms

Medical test

Diagnosis

When a painless and transilluminable mass is observed along the path of the spermatic cord, it should be considered a hydrocele or cord cyst.

Differential diagnosis

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TECHNIQUES AND TREATMENTS

Treatment

Complications

Frequently asked questions at the Andromedi centres in Madrid, Seville and Tenerife

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