title: Preoperative ultrasonographic evaluation of testicular volume and blood flow in patients with inguinal hernias.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. ahmettuncayturgut@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ahmet T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Turgut
authors.forename: Esin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Olçücüoğlu
authors.forename: Ceyda
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Turan
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kiliçoğlu
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koşar
authors.forename: Pinar O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Geyik
authors.forename: Uğur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Koşar
authors.forename: Vikram
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dogra
mesh_terms: 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*