Evaluation of orchiopexy practice patterns in patients with cryptorchidism: a single-centre study

A closer look to the timing of orchidopexy in undescended testes and adherence to the AWMF-guideline

BACKGROUND

To lower the risk of testicular malignancies and subfertility, international guidelines recommend orchidopexy for undescended testis (UDT) before the age of 12-18 months. Previous studies reported low rates of 5-15% of timely surgery. Most of these studies are based on DRG and OPS code-based data from healthcare system institutions that do not distinguish between congenital and acquired UDT.

METHODS

In a retrospective study data of all boys who underwent orchidopexy in a university hospital and two outpatient surgical departments from 2009 to 2022 were analyzed. The data differentiates congenital from acquired UDT.

RESULTS

Out of 2694 patients, 1843 (68.4%) had congenital and 851 (31.6%) had acquired UDT. In 24.9% of congenital cases surgery was performed before the age of 12 months. The median age at surgery for congenital UDT was 16 months (range 7-202). Over the years there was an increased rate of boys operated on before the age of 2 (40% in 2009, 60% in 2022). The median age fluctuated over the years between 21 and 11 months without a trend to younger ages.. The covid pandemic did not lead to an increase of the median age at surgery. The median time between referral and surgery was 46 days (range 1-1836). Reasons for surgery after 12 months of age were a delayed referral to pediatric surgeries (51.2%), followed by relevant comorbidities (28.2%).

CONCLUSION

Compared to recent literature, out data show that a closer look at details enables a more realistic approach. Still, there is no trend towards the recommended age for surgical treatment observable, but the rate of timely operated boys with congenital UDT is significantly higher than stated in literature.

Management of the undescended testis in children: An American Pediatric Surgical Association Outcomes and Evidence Based Practice Committee Systematic Review

PURPOSE

Management of undescended testes (UDT) has evolved over the last decade. While urologic societies in the United States and Europe have established some guidelines for care, management by North American pediatric surgeons remains variable. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the published evidence regarding the treatment of (UDT) in children.

METHODS

A comprehensive search strategy and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were utilized to identify, review, and report salient articles. Five principal questions were asked regarding imaging standards, medical treatment, surgical technique, timing of operation, and outcomes. A literature search was performed from 2005 to 2020.

RESULTS

A total of 825 articles were identified in the initial search, and 260 were included in the final review.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-operative imaging and hormonal therapy are generally not recommended except in specific circumstances. Testicular growth and potential for fertility improves when orchiopexy is performed before one year of age. For a palpable testis, a single incision approach is preferred over a two-incision orchiopexy. Laparoscopic orchiopexy is associated with a slightly lower testicular atrophy rate but a higher rate of long-term testicular retraction. One and two-stage Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy have similar rates of testicular atrophy and retraction. There is a higher relative risk of testicular cancer in UDT which may be lessened by pre-pubertal orchiopexy.

Scrotal Ultrasound Is Not Routinely Indicated in the Management of Cryptorchidism, Retractile Testes, and Hydrocele in Children

Cryptorchidism, or undescended testes, is the most common congenital genitourinary anomaly. A failure or delay of treatment may result in reduced fertility or an increased risk of testicular cancer. The American Urological Association (AUA) recommends that a scrotal ultrasound (SUS) not be performed in the preoperative management of cryptorchidism. This study investigated how likely pediatricians were to perform SUS despite the AUA guidelines. We retrospectively studied 243 patients referred to a single pediatric urology practice for clinically diagnosed testis pathology including undescended testis, hydrocele, and retractile testis over a 4-year period (January 1, 2015, to December 30, 2018). A total of 72 patients (29.6%) underwent a SUS ordered by their pediatrician prior to the pediatric urology visit. Pediatricians should be aware that SUS performed prior to pediatric urological evaluation does not alter management and is associated with a significant financial cost in patients with cryptorchidism or hydrocele.

Guideline implementation for the treatment of undescended testes: Still room for improvement

BACKGROUND

Early orchidopexy (OP) around the age of 1 year is recommended in boys with congenital undescended testis (UDT) worldwide since decades. Former retrospectives studies did not distinguish congenital from acquired UDT with a consecutive negative bias concerning the age at surgery.

METHODS

In a retrospective analysis, data of all boys who underwent OP in eight pediatric surgery institutions from 2009 to 2015 were analyzed. Congenital or acquired UDT were differentiated. Patients were categorized into 3 groups of age at surgery: (1) <12 months, (2) 12-24 months, (3) >24 months. Data of one institution were analyzed in detail: exact age of first referral, exact age at surgery, intraoperative findings.

RESULTS

Out of 4448 boys, 3270 boys had congenital UDT. In 81% (2656 cases) surgery was performed beyond the age of 1 year, in 54.4% (1780) beyond the age of 2 years. chi-Square statistics showed a higher rate of early operations in hospitals compared to outpatient services and in Germany compared to Switzerland. In 694 congenital detailed cases, median age at referral was 13 months [range 0-196], median age at surgery was 15 months [range 0-202].

CONCLUSION

Delayed referral is the main reason for guideline non-conform delayed surgery in UDT.

TYPE OF STUDY

Clinical Research paper.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III: Treatment Study.

Cryptorchidism in Sweden: A Nationwide Study of Prevalence, Operative Management, and Complications

OBJECTIVES

To review the cumulative prevalence, operative management, and complications of treatment for cryptorchidism in Sweden.

STUDY DESIGN

A nationwide observational study from longitudinal register data of all Swedish-born boys 0-18 years of age, diagnosed with cryptorchidism from 2001 to 2014. Primary outcomes were occurrence and age at primary surgery. Secondary outcomes included type of procedure and surgical site infection.

RESULTS

Of 20 375 boys diagnosed with cryptorchidism in 2001-2014, 12 766 were surgically treated. The cumulative childhood prevalence was 1.8% (95% CI, 1.5-2.0), with a higher prevalence in boys born prematurely, small for gestational age, or with low birth weight. The median age at treatment decreased from 6.2 years in 2001 to 3.4 years in 2014 (P < .001). Still, 94.1% (95% CI, 92.7-95.6) had surgery after the recommended 1 year of age in 2014. Variations in age at surgery between Swedish counties were great (range, 2.9-5.9 years of age). There were no deaths within 30 days after surgery and the frequency of surgical site infection was low (1.4%; 95% CI, 1.1-1.6).

CONCLUSIONS

The cumulative childhood prevalence of cryptorchidism was high, and complications were rare. Few boys underwent surgery in a timely manner according to clinical guidelines, and standards of care varied considerably across the country. Further research and collective actions are needed to improve the detection and management of congenital cryptorchidism.

The role of ultrasound in the management of undescended testes before and after orchidopexy - an update

The aim of this study was to evaluate the testicular volume and structure using ultrasound (US) before and up to 3 years after orchidopexy in children with different age.A total of 128 patients underwent orchidopexy for undescended testes. Afterwards, patients were invited for annual follow-up and control scrotal US. The total number of analyzed testes after orchidopexy was 184. Patients were divided according to age at the time of surgery: group I (2-4 years old), group II (5-7), and group III (8-10). In all patients, the testicular volume ratio was calculated as the operated testes volume versus the control testes mean volume.There was an increase in the median ratio in all age groups, from 0.86 to 0.95 in group I, 0.82 to 0.92 in group II and 0.78 to 0.90 in group III. In group of the patients 2 to 4 years old the growth of the ratio 3 years after surgery was statistically significant.Abnormalities in the structure of the testes, which may indicate severe damage to the testis, were seen in approximately 20% of patients on initial exams. On follow-up exams, this type of structure remained in 7% of patients. Testes with an initial ratio <0.25 and inhomogeneous structure did not show any significant growth.Scrotal US can be used for an accurate comparative assessment of the structure and growth of the testes before and after orchidopexy.Abnormalities in the structure of the testes may identify testes requiring more advanced methods of evaluation.

The anatomic findings during operative exploration for non-palpable testes: A prospective evaluation

BACKGROUND

We conducted a randomized trial comparing 1 and 2-stage laparoscopic orchiopexy for intra-abdominal testes. During recruitment, it became apparent that most patients with non-palpable testes do not require vascular division. In this report, we outline the location and quality of testes found during operative exploration in patients who consented for the study but were not randomized.

METHODS

Analysis was performed on 80 patients undergoing operative exploration for non-palpable testes between 2007 and 2014. The location and pathology of undescended testes were analyzed.

RESULTS

There were 87 preoperative non-palpable testes in 80 patients that were consented but not randomized to 1 or 2 stage orchiopexy with vascular division. Forty (46%) of nonrandomized testes were atrophic or absent, and 47 (54%) were normal in appearance. Sixty eight testes were evaluated via laparoscopy. The most common location for normal (81%) and absent/atrophic (70%) testes was the inguinal canal. Atrophic testes were more often left sided (72.5%) with normal testes equally divided. Patients with atrophic or absent testicles were more likely to have a closed internal ring (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the majority of patients undergoing operative exploration for non-palpable testes will not require vascular division, and instead would be either atrophic or able to undergo traditional orchiopexy.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

The timing of surgery for undescended testis - a retrospective multicenter analysis

BACKGROUND

n Germany, it is recommended that the surgical treatment of an undescended testis should be carried out between the ages of 6 months and 1 year to lower the risks of subfertility and testicular carcinoma. Although this recommendation has appeared in the German guidelines from 2007 onward, orchidopexy is still frequently performed at later ages.

METHOD

We retrospectively analyzed data from seven pediatric surgical services in the German state of Baden-Württemberg on all boys who underwent orchidopexy from 2009 to 2012. We classified the timing of surgery as Age Group I (before the first birthday), Age Group II (between the first and second birthdays), and Age Group III (after the second birthday). We determined whether preoperative hormonal treatment was given and distinguished primary from secondary undescended testis.

RESULTS

Among 2213 boys who underwent orchidopexy, 1850 had primary and 363 had secondary undescended testis. Of those with primary undescended testis, the percentages of boys who underwent surgery in Age Groups I, II, and III were (respectively, with 95% confidence intervals): 18.7% (17-20.6%), 24.4% (22.5-26.5%), and 57% (54.6-59.2%). A small percentage of boys in each group also received preoperative hormonal treatment. From 2009 to 2012, there was a secular trend favoring earlier orchidopexy. In 2012, 28 boys (14.2% [9.7-20.0%]) had orchidopexy in outpatient pediatric surgery practices before their first birthday, while 68 did on hospital inpatient services (40.7% [33.2-48.6%]).

CONCLUSION

Most of the patients studied had surgery at a later age than recommended. Adherence to the guidelines in this respect is nonetheless relatively good in Germany compared to other countries, as studies from abroad have yielded findings that are just as bad or worse.