Orchiopexy: What to Expect
Surgery
Prior to Surgery
- Talk to your doctor about your baby’s medications and vitamins. Some may need to be discontinued prior to surgery.
- Discuss any possible bleeding disorders or other medical conditions that could impact surgery or anesthesia.
- Blood samples are taken in case your child needs a blood transfusion.
Day of the Surgery
- Do not feed your infant after midnight on the evening prior to surgery.
- You will receive a call from the hospital about arrival time.
After Surgery
- Most infants will go home within 23 hours.
- There will be soreness around the surgical site during the first 24 to 48 hours following surgery.
- Do not bathe your baby until at least two days after surgery. Sponge baths are recommended.
- Minor bleeding is normal. Care for the incisions as directed by the doctor.
- If you child wears a diaper, change it often. Leave it off for short periods to reduce any irritation to the area.
Recovery: What to Expect in the Next Few Weeks
Most babies will fully recover in one to two weeks.
Alternative Names
- Cryptorchidism
- Empty scrotum - undescended testes
- Scrotum - empty (undescended testes)
- Monorchism
- Vanished testes - undescended
- Retractile testes
Question & Answer
Below, find answers to commonly asked questions. Click each item to expand the Q&A for each section.
The Procedure
Q: What does the procedure involve?
Tiny incisions are made in one or both sides of the groin and in the abdomen, allowing a camera and instruments to operate inside the body. When the cord that holds the testis in the scrotum is located, the surgeon will release it from the surrounding tissue so that the cord's full length is used. A small cut is made in the scrotum, and a pouch is created. Then, the testicle is dropped into the scrotum and secured. Sometimes a button will be used to hold the testicle in place until it is fully healed. This is removed a few weeks following surgery. The surgery is typically performed with the child being under general anesthesia.
Incisions
Q: How many incisions are made?
Three tiny incisions are made in the abdomen.
Hospital Stay
Q: How long will my child stay in the hospital?
In most cases, babies are hospitalized for one to two days.
Recovery Time
Q: What is the recovery time?
Most babies recover within two weeks.
Risk of Waiting
Q: How soon before my baby can resume breastfeeding or drinking formula?
While it is typically not an emergency surgery, sometimes an inguinal hernia may develop and cut off the blood circulation. Most pediatric surgeons recommend having the surgery at or around seven to 15 months of age to allow for normal development as the child grows. Additionally, if surgery is delayed until a child is older or in his teens, there is an increased risk of testicular cancer.