Surgical treatment of cystic swellings of the scrotum under local anaesthesia.

Fifty-one patients underwent surgery for symptomatic epididymal cysts or hydroceles, using local anaesthesia with no sedation and no diathermy. Of the patients surveyed, 91% found the procedure comfortable or uncomfortable, 9% finding it painful. Most patients (89%) were fully recovered after 3 weeks. None of the patients had to have operative intervention for complications. Treatment of these conditions under local anaesthesia is cost-effective, and can be performed with the minimum of special equipment on patients who might otherwise be unfit for a general anaesthetic.