Benefits of laparoscopy and the Jones technique for the nonpalpable testis.

PURPOSE: We report on the role of diagnostic laparoscopy combined with the Jones suprainguinal approach to orchiopexy in the treatment of abdominal testes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was done of 209 boys with 265 cryptorchid testes who underwent orchiopexy between January 1994 and March 1996. A subset of patients with nonpalpable testis underwent diagnostic laparoscopy and according to the laparoscopic findings either standard inguinal or suprainguinal extraperitoneal orchiopexy.

RESULTS: Of 209 patients 47 had 63 impalpable testes. Laparoscopy was done on 31 patients (42 testes). Findings at laparoscopy revealed 29 (69%) abdominal, 7 (17%) intracanalicular and 6 (14%) vanishing testes. A satisfactory result with scrotal position of the testis and no atrophy was obtained in 18 of 19 patients operated via the Jones approach combined with diagnostic laparoscopy. The only patient with unsatisfactory result underwent ligation of the spermatic vessels at the time of operation. In contrast, satisfactory results were achieved for only 7 of 10 intra-abdominal testes after diagnostic laparoscopy and standard inguinal orchiopexy despite universal spermatic vessel ligation. Of these 10 testes 2 ended in an inguinal location and 1 atrophied.

CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy was helpful in determining surgical approach in most cases. The suprainguinal approach allowed most abdominal testes to be placed in the scrotum without vascular ligation.