(O-24) EFFICACY OF ASPIRATION AND SCLEROTHERAPY FOR HYDROCELE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Hydroceles are abnormal collection of fluid between the parietal and visceral layers of the tunica vaginalis. Traditionally, surgical excision and or repair under general anaesthesia has been the standard of care, but sclerosant therapy can be used safely and with efficacy for hydrocele’s treatment. This study aims to review and elucidate the current literature sclerotherapy for hydrocele. We searched for articles in Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane evaluating aspiration and sclerotherapy for hydrocele treatment. Search terms were “hydrocele” and “sclerotherapy”. Relevant papers references were full reviewed searching for new articles. The sclerosing agents considered eligle were phenol, tetracycline, sodium tetradecyl sulfate, phenol and alcohol. We included 1554 patients from 26 studies. Mean aspirative hydrocele volume was 238,3 mL. Cure rate was seen in 58,3% to 76% after a single procedure in STDS studies and 70% to 94,11% overall success. Phenol’s studies demonstrated a 47.5% to 70% cure rate with one sclerotherapy and 96.5% to 100% overall success. In Sclerotheraphy with tetracycline cure rate after a single procedure was 57% to 100% and overall success was 77% to 100%. Of the polidocanol group, cure rate was 42.3% to 62.1% after one sclerotherapy and overall success was 51.7% to 94%. Finally, in alcohol’s group we found 50% to 76.12% after one procedure and 80% to 97.62%. A better cure rate after one procedure was observed with tetracycline and overall success after multiples procedures was seen with phenol. Due to heterogeneity and biases of the studies, more controlled clinical trials must be done to elucidate the best sclerosant agents. No conflict.