[The role of therapeutic laparoscopy in the surgical treatment of intra-abdominal testes in children].

Abstract

Over a period of four years (September 1986 to September 1990), 32 impalpable testes were found in 24 cryptorchid boys at Sainte-Justine Hospital, Montreal. 11 (34%) of the impalpable testes were intra-abdominal. Of these, 5 testes were hypoplastic and were removed, 3 by a traditional inguinal transperitoneal orchiectomy and 2 by laparoscopy; 2 testicles were brought down by classic orchiopexy whereas two others underwent a Fowler-Stephens procedure. One of these underwent preliminary laparoscopic clipping of the spermatic vessels followed six months later by open surgery to bring the testis down on the vas and deferential artery and its well-developed collateral circulation. One patient underwent a two-stage open orchiopexy and another had unilateral testicular autotransplantation. The literature is reviewed and surgical indications for therapeutic laparoscopy are discussed.