Drainage of Hydrocele

DRAINAGE OF HYDROCELE

A hydrocele is the collection of fluid in the membranes surrounding the testicles, causing swelling in the scrotum. Hydrocoeles can be present at birth or affect infants and children; they may also occur in adolescents or adults as a result of infection, inflammation, or injury to the testicles.

Hydrocoeles are a common cause of scrotal swelling and do not cause any damage to the testicles.

Once the hydrocele is diagnosed, the least invasive procedure is to have the fluid drained from the scrotum by a needle, which is called aspiration.

HOW IT WORKS

After a topical anesthetic is given, a needle is inserted into the scrotum to penetrate the hydrocele, then the clear fluid is removed (aspirated). If the fluid is bloody and/or pus-filled, then that indicates an injury, infection or perhaps cancer. This procedure is very quick and doesn’t require much recovery time — usually just a day or so.

To prevent fluid reaccumulating after it has been drained, a special fluid called a “sclerosing” fluid may be injected into the scrotum after the hydrocoele has been drained. The sclerosing fluid helps to seal off the passage from the abdomen to the scrotum, preventing fluid from re-entering the scrotum.