Do the manipulations in pediatric inguinal hernia operations affect the vascularization of testes?

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of manipulations performed in inguinal hernia operations on testicular perfusion, in pediatric age group using Doppler ultrasonography (DUS). METHODS: In this prospective clinical trial, 51 boys who underwent elective inguinal hernia repair were examined before the operation and in early-late postoperative periods. Blood flow indices of centripetal and capsular arteries including peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistivity index (RI) were examined by DUS. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant increase in early postoperative PSV and RI values compared with preoperative findings. These values turned to normal in late postoperative period. The increase in early and decrease in late postoperative EDV values were not statistically significant compared to preoperative findings. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical manipulations performed in inguinal hernia operations in children cause transient changes in testes vascularization in early postoperative period but turns to normal late postoperatively.