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17 Inguinal Hernias and Hydroceles

 

 

17.2.7Complications of Inguinal Herniotomy

The overall operative complication rate associated with hernias is 1.7–8 %.

Infertility:

Infertility may result from bilateral injury to the vas deferens or injury to the vas of a solitary testis.

The presence of a vas-like structure in the pathology specimen does not necessarily indicate injury to the vas, as up to 6 % of specimens contain müllerian ductal remnants with a histologic appearance very similar to the vas.

Testicular atrophy:

An incarcerated hernia may compromise blood flow to the testicle prior to surgery.

The rate of testicular atrophy after repair of an incarcerated hernia can be as high as 19%.

Testicular atrophy may also result from intraoperative injury to the testicular blood supply.

Scrotal hematoma:

As with any surgery, scrotal hematomas may occur.

A hematoma usually does not need to be explored unless the hematoma continues to enlarge or becomes infected.

Treatment is with scrotal elevation and analgesics.

Wound infection.

Hypesthesia and neuropathic pain can result from nerve entrapment or injury.

Iatrogenic cryptorchidism:

This may result from excessive scar formation and ascent of the testicle.

Or improper replacement of the testicle into the scrotum after herniotomy.

Recurrence and hydrocele formation:

This may be seen in less than 5 % of cases.

If the hydrocele does not disappear spontaneously after 1 year, reoperation is indicated.

With open surgery, ipsilateral recurrence rates are less than 1 %.

The ipsilateral recurrence rate following laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is 3.4 %.

The occurrence of a metachronous contralateral hernia is inversely related to age and can be as high as 12 %. This is more so if the initial hernia was on the left side.

17.3Hydrocele

17.3.1 Embryology

During fetal development, the testicle develops below the kidney, within the peritoneal cavity.

Subsequently, the testicle descends down and through the inguinal canal and finally into the scrotum.

During its descent, it is accompanied by an extension of peritoneum (the processus vaginalis).

Normally, the processus vaginalis obliterates and becomes a fibrous cord.

The distal part of the processus vaginalis forms the tunica vaginalis. In postnatal life, this is a potential space that should not communicate with the peritoneal cavity of the abdomen.

If the processus vaginalis does not close, it is referred to as a patent processus vaginalis.

If the patent processus vaginalis is small in caliber and allow fluid to pass from the abdomen, the condition is referred to as a communicating hydrocele.

If the patent processus vaginalis is larger, allowing ovary, intestine, omentum, or other abdominal contents to protrude, the condition is referred to as a hernia.

A hydrocele usually transilluminates on examination. However, gas-filled intestines also transilluminate. This must be considered during evaluation (Fig. 17.24).

Hydroceles can be unilateral or bilateral (Figs. 17.25, 17.26, and 17.27)

An important point differentiating a hydrocele from an inguinal hernia is that you can get above a hydrocele but you cannot get above an inguinal hernia. The only exception to this is an abdomino-scrotal hydrocele.

17.3 Hydrocele

411

 

 

17.3.2Classification of Hydroceles

(Fig. 17.28)

Communicating hydroceles:

The patent processus vaginalis is continuous with the tunica vaginalis, which surrounds the testicle.

The communication is small, so only fluid can pass into the patent processus vaginalis.

A characteristic feature of communicating hydroceles is their tendency to be relatively small in the morning and increase in size during the day.

Actions which increase intra-abdominal pressure (crying, coughing, etc.) will also lead to increase in the size of the hydrocele.

Noncommunicating hydroceles:

In this, the fluid is confined to the scrotum within the tunica vaginalis.

The processus vaginalis is obliterated so the fluid does not communicate with the abdominal cavity.

Such hydroceles are common in infants, and the hydrocele disappears before the infant is 1 year old.

Fig. 17.24 A clinical photograph showing tansillumina-

Fig. 17.27 A clinical photograph showing giant bilateral

tion of a hydrocele

hydroceles

Figs. 17.25 and 17.26 Clinical photographs showing small and large bilateral hydroceles

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17 Inguinal Hernias and Hydroceles

 

 

They may be present at birth or develop in older children.

The fluid in noncommunicating hydroceles is walled off, the size of the hydrocele is generally stable and does not change with change in intra-abdominal pressure.

Reactive hydroceles:

These are noncommunicating hydroceles that develop following trauma or infection.

Encysted hydrocele of the cord (Figs. 17.29 and 17.30):

Fig. 17.28 A diagrammatic representation of the different types of hydroceles

This is a fluid filled cystic swelling within the inguinal canal.

The fluid does not extend into the scrotum.

This occurs when the processus vaginalis obliterates above the testicle and a small communication with the peritoneum persists, and the processus vaginalis may be open as far down as the top of the scrotum.

Hydrocele of the canal of Nuck:

This occurs in girls when fluid accumulates within the processus vaginalis in the inguinal canal.

COMMUNICATING

 

NON-COMMUNICATING

 

ENCYSTED

HYDROCELE

 

HYDROCELE

 

HYDROCELE

 

 

 

 

 

ENCYSTED

HYDROCELE

ENCYSTED

HYDROCELE

Figs. 17.29 and 17.30 Clinical and intraoperative photographs showing encysted hydrocele

17.3 Hydrocele

413

 

 

Abdomino-scrotal hydrocele:

This results from a miniscule opening in the processus vaginalis.

The fluid enters the hydrocele and becomes trapped.

The hydrocele continues to enlarge and eventually extends upward into the abdomen, causing a fluid-filled mass in the abdomen.

Fig. 17.31 A clinical photograph showing an infant with bilateral hydroceles

17.3.3 Treatment

Unlike hernias, many newborn hydroceles resolve because of spontaneous closure of the patent processus vaginalis (Figs. 17.31, 17.32, and 17.33).

The noncommunicating hydrocele:

The fluid in the hydrocele is usually reabsorbed before the infant reaches age 1 year.

Observation is often appropriate for hydroceles in infants.

In 95 % of congenital hydroceles, the natural history is one of gradual and complete resolution by 1 year of age.

For those lasting longer than 1 year or for those non-communicating hydroceles that manifest after the first year, surgical repair is indicated since these rarely resolve spontaneously

Indications for hydrocele repair:

Congenital hydroceles that fails to resolve by age 2 years.

Non-communicating hydroceles that manifest after 1 year of age.

Continued discomfort and enlargement.

Secondary infection (very rare)

Figs. 17.32 and 17.33 Clinical photographs of congenital hydrocele being treated conservatively