Surgery for vaginal hydroceles: an update

Abstract

In men, vaginal hydrocele is the most common morbidity due to Wuchereria bancrofti . Diagnosis is straightforward most of the time but when the swelling is not transilluminant, patients in whom the diagnosis is in doubt, children with hydroceles and those with co-morbid conditions should have ultrasonography to differentiate these swellings. Studies on the effect of medical treatment with diethylcarbamazine on the size of hydroceles are inconclusive. The only effective treatment for hydrocele is surgery as the minimally invasive therapy like aspiration and sclerotherapy are known to have high recurrence rates. Several surgical options are available for managing hydrocele but the recommended operation is hydrocelectomy, i.e. a subtotal excision of the parietal layer of the tunica vaginalis leaving a rim of approximately one-centimeter width around the testis and epididymis.

Keywords

• Filariasis; Hydrocele; Surgery