Orchidopexy Surgery: All You Need to Know About Orchidopexy

What is Orchidopexy?

Some children are born with a condition in which a testicle does not drop down into its right position in the scrotum. In these cases, the testicle remains in the abdomen/groin region. This condition is called cryptorchidism and is treated with orchidopexy surgery.

Orchidopexy is an important surgical procedure because of the risks associated with an undescended testicle. Apart from being associated with problems such as hernia, an undescended testicle also increases the risk of testicular cancer. This surgery can improve the functioning of the testicle in question and reduces the risk of it becoming completely damaged. 

Anesthesia Requirements

General anesthesia is applied in the event of orchidopexy surgery, which means that the body’s reflexes will be fully relaxed. In surgeries like the one under discussion, general anesthesia makes sense since it makes the surgery easier and safer. Along with general anesthesia, caudal anesthesia is administered as well. The idea is to block any painful sensations in the lower back, belly, and lower trunk area. Caudal anesthesia can provide pain relief for four hours after a patient undergoes orchidopexy.

What Happens During an Orchidopexy?

While the surgical procedure details might be too complicated for the scope of this discussion, let us summarize the main events during an orchidopexy:

1- First, a small incision is made in the groin area over the testicle in question.

2- Then, the surgeon will locate the testicle and bring it to the scrotum where it should be.

3- A second incision is made in the scrotum. Sutures are placed under the skin to ensure that testicles don’t pull back and up out of the testicle sac.

4- The incisions are then covered by dressings that must be changed regularly. The healthcare professionals on duty provide all the necessary information to parents/guardians. Only a small scar is left after the healing process is complete.

Even though there are a lot of technicalities that we haven’t mentioned here, orchidopexy is a relatively simpler surgical procedure. The entire process takes around one hour. Parents need to stay calm and focused on taking care of their children during this period.

Affordability 

Like most surgical procedures, orchidopexy is also an expensive surgical treatment. Many families belonging to underprivileged communities are unable to pay for this surgical procedure, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. That’s where different nonprofit healthcare organizations come into play. They ensure that kids suffering from cryptorchidism don’t have to suffer for the rest of their lives by raising funds for their orchidopexy surgery. One such organization that provides free orchidopexy surgery to Pakistani children is Transparent Hands.

Transparent Hands

Transparent Hands is one of the biggest charitable organizations in Pakistan. We raise funds for disadvantaged Pakistani patients via our unique crowdfunding platform. We conduct medical camps, raises, surgeries, and medical procedures free of charge. Over 52,000 poor patients have received free treatments through Transparent Hands since 2014. We also hold preventive healthcare sessions by expert doctors to spread awareness about different health issues that are prevalent across the country. Transparent Hands also raises funds for children who need to undergo orchidopexy surgery. The organization has helped many children and is determined to do so on a larger scale in the future. 

Conclusion

Orchidopexy may sound like a complicated surgical procedure. However, if the child is in competent hands, there is little to worry about. Join hands with Transparent Hands to help children whose parents cannot pay for their orchidopexy surgeries due to financial constraints.  

(The information in this article should not be taken as a substitute for professional medical advice.)