Preoperative ultrasonographic evaluation of testicular volume and blood flow in patients with inguinal hernias.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether an inguinal hernia would have an impact on the testicular volume and blood flow by scrotal ultrasonography.


METHODS
Twenty-six male patients with unilateral inguinal hernias with a mean age of 48.1 years were included in the study. Testicular volumes were calculated, and spectral parameters such as the pulsatility index and resistive index of the testicular artery at supratesticular, subcapsular, and intratesticular levels on both the side with the inguinal hernia and the contralateral side were measured by a preoperative ultrasonographic examination. Comparisons between the dependent groups were performed by a Wilcoxon or paired samples t test where appropriate.


RESULTS
The mean +/- SD testicular volume on the side with the inguinal hernia was significantly higher than that on the contralateral testis (15.46+/-4.49 versus 14.54+/-3.65 mL, respectively; P<.05, Student t test). In addition, the mean resistive index of the intratesticular arteries was significantly higher on the side with the hernia compared with the contralateral side (0.66+/-0.06 versus 0.63+/-0.05; P<.05, Student t test).


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that an inguinal hernia may impair testicular blood flow, which may be attributable to an intermittent mechanical compression effect on the funiculus spermaticus in the inguinal canal.
Turgut
Ahmet T
AT
Department of Radiology, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. ahmettuncayturgut@yahoo.com
Olçücüoğlu
Esin
E
Turan
Ceyda
C
Kiliçoğlu
Bülent
B
Koşar
Pinar
P
Geyik
Pinar O
PO
Koşar
Uğur
U
Dogra
Vikram
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D007511:Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*