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Hydrocelectomy in Children
Hydrocelectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a collection of fluid (hydrocele) from the pouch that holds the testicles (scrotum). Your child may need a hydrocelectomy if he has a hydrocele that:
- Has not gone away by 2 years of age.
- Causes increased swelling of the scrotum.
- Causes discomfort.
During pregnancy, a baby’s testicles develop in his abdomen. Before birth, they move into his scrotum through a canal. Normally, this canal closes before birth. If it does not close, it can fill with fluid, causing a hydrocele. A hydrocelectomy is a procedure to drain the hydrocele and to repair the defect, if one is present.
Tell a health care provider about:
- Any allergies your child has.
- All medicines your child is taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
- Previous problems your child or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
- Any blood or bone disorders your child has.
- Any surgeries your child has had.
- Any medical conditions your child has.
- Any recent cold or flu symptoms your child has had.
What are the risks?
Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:
- Bleeding into the scrotum (scrotal hematoma).
- Infection.
- Damage to the testicle or to the tube that carries sperm out of the testicle (vas deferens).
- Allergic reactions to medicines.
What happens before the procedure?
Staying hydrated
Follow instructions from your child’s health care provider about hydration, which may include:
- Up to 2 hours before the procedure – your child may continue to drink clear liquids, such as water or clear fruit juice.
Eating and drinking restrictions
Follow instructions from your child’s health care provider about eating and drinking, which may include:
- 8 hours before the procedure – have your child stop eating foods.
- 6 hours before the procedure – have your child stop drinking formula or milk.
- 4 hours before the procedure – stop giving your child breast milk.
- 2 hours before the procedure – have your child stop drinking clear liquids.
Medicines
- Ask your child’s health care provider about:
- Changing or stopping your child’s regular medicines. This is especially important if your child is taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
- Giving over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements.
- Giving medicines such as ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your child’s blood. Do not give these medicines to your child unless your health care provider tells you to give them.
- Your child may be given antibiotic medicine to help prevent infection.
What happens during the procedure?
- To lower your child’s risk of infection:
- Your child’s health care team will wash or sanitize their hands.
- Your child’s skin will be washed with soap.
- Hair may be removed from the surgical area.
- An IV will be inserted into one of your child’s veins.
- Your child will be given one or more of the following:
- A medicine to help your child relax (sedative).
- A medicine to make your child fall asleep (general anesthetic).
- For an infant or young child, an incision will be made in the groin.
- For an older child, the incision will be made through the skin of the scrotum.
- The testicle and the hydrocele will be located, and the hydrocele sac will be opened with an incision.
- The fluid will be drained from the sac.
- If needed, the opening of the canal will be repaired with absorbable stitches (sutures) to prevent fluid from building up again.
- The incision will be closed with sutures, skin glue, or adhesive tape.
- A bandage (dressing) may be placed over the incision.
The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.
What happens after the procedure?
- Your child’s blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored until the medicines your child was given have worn off.
- Your child will be given pain medicine as needed.
- Your child’s IV will be removed and the insertion site will be checked for bleeding.
- Your child may have to wear an athletic support strap to hold the dressing in place and support the scrotum.
Summary
- A hydrocelectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a collection of fluid (hydrocele) from the pouch that holds the testicles (scrotum).
- Your child may need a hydrocelectomy if the hydrocele has not gone away by 2 years of age.
Hydrocelectomy, Pediatric, Care After
This sheet gives you information about how to care for your child after his procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. If you have problems or questions, contact your health care provider.
What can I expect after the procedure?
After this procedure, it is common for children to have mild discomfort, swelling, and bruising around the incision.
Follow these instructions at home:
Bathing
- Do not let your child take baths or swim until your child’s health care provider approves.
- Ask your child’s health care provider if your child can take showers. Your child may only be allowed to have sponge baths.
Incision care
- Follow instructions from your child’s health care provider about
how to take care of the incision area. Make sure you:
- Wash your hands with soap and water before changing the bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Change your child’s dressing as told by your child’s health care provider.
- Leave stitches (sutures), skin glue, or adhesive strips in place. These skin closures may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer. If adhesive strip edges start to loosen and curl up, you may trim the loose edges. Do not remove adhesive strips completely unless your child’s health care provider tells you to do that.
- Check your child’s incision area every day for signs of
infection. Check for:
- More redness, swelling, or pain.
- More fluid or blood.
- Warmth.
- Pus or a bad smell.
Activity
- Let your child return to his normal activities as told by his health care provider. Ask what activities are safe for your child.
- Do not let
your child:
- Use toys that he would straddle, such as a rocking horse.
- Lift heavy objects.
- Play roughly.
General instructions
- Give your child over-the-counter or prescription pain medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider.
- Keep all follow-up visits as told by your child’s health care provider. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if:
- Your child has pain that is not controlled with pain medicine.
- Your child has more redness or swelling around his scrotum.
- Your child has blood or fluid coming from the incision.
- Your child’s incision feels warm to the touch.
- Your child has pus or a bad smell coming from the incision.
- Your child has a fever or chills.
Summary
- Wash your hands with soap and water before changing the bandage (dressing).
- Check your child’s incision area every day for signs of infection.
- Let your child return to his normal activities as told by his health care provider.