Rebecca Ellis1, Rajiv Lahiri, Anies Mahomed. 1. Department of Paediatric Surgery, Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton, BN2 5BE, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Testicular survival following second-stage Fowler-Stephens (FS) procedure depends upon adequate arterial supply. There is evidence that testicular survival rates are greater following gubernaculum-sparing second-stage FS procedure. The importance of collateral vessels in preservation of the testis has been hypothesised, but never shown in the literature. We aim to map the collateral blood supply to the testicle in gubernaculum-sparing, laparoscopic-assisted, second-stage FS procedure for intra-abdominal testicles. METHODS: Selected patients undergoing a second-stage FS procedure were photographed prior to pexy in the Dartos pouch. Photographs were evaluated for the extent of vascular collateralisation between gubernacular, deferential and the ligated spermatic artery. RESEARCH: Twenty-five patients with 28 undescended testicles underwent staged FS procedure over a 7.5-year period between 2005 and April 2013. Mean age at operation was 2.44 years, and all testicles were delivered to the scrotum. Mean follow-up was 3.29 years, and all patients were reviewed by the operating consultant. Testicular survival rate was 100 %. Representative photographs clearly demonstrate substantial cremasteric vessels running along the gubernaculum with robust collateralisation to the deferential vessel and the spermatic arterial stump. CONCLUSION: These images confirm the presence of robust collateral between the cremasteric and deferential vessels at second-stage FS procedure. Preservation of these collaterals in a gubernaculum-sparing approach may explain the excellent results seen in this series.
BACKGROUND: Testicular survival following second-stage Fowler-Stephens (FS) procedure depends upon adequate arterial supply. There is evidence that testicular survival rates are greater following gubernaculum-sparing second-stage FS procedure. The importance of collateral vessels in preservation of the testis has been hypothesised, but never shown in the literature. We aim to map the collateral blood supply to the testicle in gubernaculum-sparing, laparoscopic-assisted, second-stage FS procedure for intra-abdominal testicles. METHODS: Selected patients undergoing a second-stage FS procedure were photographed prior to pexy in the Dartos pouch. Photographs were evaluated for the extent of vascular collateralisation between gubernacular, deferential and the ligated spermatic artery. RESEARCH: Twenty-five patients with 28 undescended testicles underwent staged FS procedure over a 7.5-year period between 2005 and April 2013. Mean age at operation was 2.44 years, and all testicles were delivered to the scrotum. Mean follow-up was 3.29 years, and all patients were reviewed by the operating consultant. Testicular survival rate was 100 %. Representative photographs clearly demonstrate substantial cremasteric vessels running along the gubernaculum with robust collateralisation to the deferential vessel and the spermatic arterial stump. CONCLUSION: These images confirm the presence of robust collateral between the cremasteric and deferential vessels at second-stage FS procedure. Preservation of these collaterals in a gubernaculum-sparing approach may explain the excellent results seen in this series.
Authors: Tatiana C Benzi; Natasha T Logsdon; Francisco J B Sampaio; Luciano Alves Favorito Journal: Int Braz J Urol Date: 2022 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 1.541