Impact of diagnostic laparoscopy in the management of the unilateral impalpable testis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of laparoscopy on the management of children with a unilateral impalpable testis.


METHODS
The study population consisted of 27 children who underwent a primary inguinal exploration for a unilateral impalpable testis.


RESULTS
Twelve of 27 (44%) children had inguinal or 'peeping' testes and 10 of 27 (37%) had blind-ending vasa and vessels in the inguinal canal; four of these 10 had atrophic tubular tissue in the excised remant. Four of 27 (15%) had blind-ending vasa and vessels proximal to the internal ring. Only one child had a testis proximal to the internal ring. Only the four children (15%) with blind-ending vasa and vessels proximal to the internal ring would have benefited from a laparoscopy by avoiding an inguinal exploration.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of the time, expense and limited usefulness of laparoscopy in altering the management of children with a unilateral unpalpable testis, we reserve laparoscopy for cases where inguinal exploration has failed.
Gulanikar
A C
AC
Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Anderson
P A
PA
Schwarz
R
R
Giacomantonio
M
M
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007264:Inguinal Canal / Q000601:surgery; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male