Evaluation of long-term surgical treatment results in patients with hydrocele

Objective: To analyze the long-term results in patients with hydrocele after using an improved sclerotherapy technique, and compare them with the results obtained using standard and traditional methods. Materials and Methods: A study was conducted between 2008 and 2015 based on examination and treatment data from 117 patients diagnosed with hydrocele. Results: Postoperative scrotal infiltrate observed after 2 months or more developed in 28 patients (48.3%) after the traditional technique but was not observed in any patient after sclerotherapy. Spermatic cord infiltrate was observed in 2 patients (4.1%) after sclerotherapy using the improved technique, in 2 patients (4.0%) after the standard technique, and in 5 patients (8.6%) after the traditional technique. Recurrent hydrocele was detected in one patient (2.1%) after sclerotherapy using the improved technique, in 7 patients (31.8%) after the standard technique, and in 2 patients (3.4%) after the traditional technique. Six to 12 months after surgery, a follow-up ultrasound examination revealed that the volume of the testicle with hydrocele had decreased to 20.9±1.5 cm3, compared to 25.2±2.2 cm3 before surgery. On the healthy side, the volume remained at 20.5±1.3 cm3. The difference between the values before and after sclerotherapy was statistically significant (p<0.05). The average sperm concentration was within the normal range (20.2±4.4 million/ml) in patients of all ages. There were no significant changes in this value during the postoperative period (21.2±3.4 million/ml). Conclusion: The surgical method has had a significant impact on the long-term outcomes of hydrocele treatment. Patients who underwent sclerotherapy using the improved technique demonstrated good and satisfactory results. These data confirm the high efficacy and minimal trauma of this method.