Transumbilical Multiport Laparoscopic Orchiopexy in Children: Comparison With Standard Laparoscopic Orchiopexy

OBJECTIVE To compare the clinical outcomes of transumbilical multiport laparoscopic orchiopexy (TMLO) vs standard laparoscopic orchiopexy (SLO) for 1-stage management of impalpable testes in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 30 patients underwent primary TMLO from January 2010 to December 2011. An additional 25 patients underwent SLO during the same period. These 2 procedures were performed with 3 ports and the usual laparoscopic instruments. The demographic, intraoperative, postoperative, and follow-up data were analyzed and compared between the patients. RESULTS The patients' demographic data were similar between the 2 groups. The mean operative time was slightly longer in the TMLO than in the SLO group (54.2 vs 47.3 minutes, P<.05), without intraoperative complications in either group. However, no significant difference was noted between the TMLO and SLO groups in the length of hospital stay (4.0 vs 4.1 days, P>.05), interval to resume feeding (5.2 vs 5.4 hours, P>.05) or full activity (2.1 vs 2.2 days, P>.05), viable testis rate (33 of 34 vs 27 of 28, P>.05), or testicular atrophy (1 of 34 vs 1 of 28, P>.05). CONCLUSION TMLO is a feasible and safe procedure for the management of impalpable testes in children, with clinical outcomes similar to those of SLO. Future randomized studies with a larger number of patients and longer follow-up are warranted to elucidate the benefits and limitations of TMLO in children. UROLOGY 80: 1345-1350, 2012. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc.