Causes of dropsy of the testicle in men, treatment
Pain, an increase in the size of the scrotum, intoxication - all this can be a symptom of various diseases, including dropsy of the testicle (hydrocele).
Causes of dropsy of the testicle in men and its consequences
The first reason is a developmental anomaly. Congenital dropsy develops if the process of the peritoneum, behind which the testicle descends into the scrotum, for some reason does not grow (combined form). Sometimes fusion still occurs, then it is an unconnected form of pathology.
The second reason is complex, the result is an acquired form of hydrocele. Appears due to injuries and infections of the scrotal organs, heart failure or testicular neoplasms.
When the pathology develops in old age, the consequences of dropsy of the testicle are minimal. The patient may feel some discomfort. If the disease is not treated in childhood or adolescence, the result can be a decrease in the size of the testicles and a violation of sperm production. The consequence of this process is a violation of the function of fertilization, which can lead to infertility.
Symptoms of dropsy of the testicles and its diagnosis
With congenital conjunctival dropsy, the size of the scrotum changes during the day, becoming minimal after night, when the fluid flows from it into the abdominal cavity. In all other cases, the volume is unchanged and may gradually increase over time.
Pain is not characteristic of this pathology, and discomfort during walking, sexual intercourse, and urination is always present.
Sometimes dropsy begins acutely, when it is a symptom of acute infectious and inflammatory processes:
- epididymitis;
- epididymorchitis;
- funiculitis;
- urethritis, etc.
The main symptoms correspond to the presence of intoxication and inflammation: pain, enlargement of the corresponding side of the scrotum, lethargy, apathy, rising body temperature.
When examining the patient, an increase in the scrotum is noted, in which an elastic formation is determined upon palpation. It is possible to feel the testicle only when it is small in size. With large dropsy, it is difficult to distinguish it from a tumor.
In addition to studying symptoms, instrumental studies are used, ultrasound is the most informative among them. With its help, you can detect the dropsy itself and distinguish it from a tumor, hernia, spermatocele.
Treatment of dropsy of the testicle
Operation to remove hydrops is the only effective method. Elimination of the disease itself and prevention of relapses of the disease is achieved. Treatment of dropsy in a child or an adult without surgery is allowed only when surgical intervention is contraindicated: with concomitant severe diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, which often occur in old age. If the patient refuses the operation in favor of conservative or traditional methods, puncture (puncture of the scrotum with fluid extraction), injection (puncture with the introduction of a drug that glues the membranes into the scrotum), and palliative surgical methods can be used. Their effectiveness is low and leads only to a temporary decrease in the severity of dropsy.
It is possible to treat hydrocele in children surgically from the age of two. This applies specifically to congenital combined dropsy of the testicles in newborn boys, which can disappear spontaneously. In other cases, the decision is made individually.
There are many operations to eliminate dropsy of the testicle, but only two are used - Winkelman and Bergman. They are mostly conducted under local anesthesia, although anesthesia is indicated for children due to the peculiarities of perception and behavior.
The incision is made along the front-outer surface of the scrotum, gradually and layer by layer reaching the vaginal membrane of the testicle. After that, the fluid is removed, this membrane is dissected and the testicle is turned outside. This is done in order to examine it in detail for a tumor, injury or inflammatory process. After the revision, the parietal sheet of the vaginal membrane is sewn up, the bleeding is stopped if it has started, and the testicle is immersed in the scrotum. The wound is sutured, applying sutures made of absorbable material (catgut) to each layer. In some cases, a rubber strip is left in the wound to drain fluid.
After the testicular dropsy operation, the patient must stay in bed for 1-2 days, wear a special suspensorium bandage. Anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, and antibiotics are prescribed if necessary. Physical activity is allowed after two months.
Folk methods of treatment
There are several methods with which you can allegedly get rid of a boyfriend or husband from the problem, but there is no evidence of the effectiveness of these means.
Hydrocele is a life-threatening pathology that causes discomfort. However, men of reproductive age, as well as children, can develop infertility, so it must be treated. Make an appointment on our website Dobrobut.com.
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Consultation of a pediatric urologist
Surgical operations