Testicular autotransplantation for the intra-abdominal testis

Abstract

Oftentimes patients with intra-abdominal testes require more than the standard procedure to accomplish orchiopexy. Division of the spermatic vessels has been one mainstay of operative approaches for the intra-abdominal testis since Fowler and Stephens (Congenital Malformations of Rectum, Anus, and Genitouriary Tracts, chapter 19, pp 306-320, 1963) provided an anatomically rational basis for this procedure. Silber and Kelly (J Urol, 115:452-454, 1976) first described using a microvascular anastomosis to bring extra blood supply to the testicle after mobilization of a high intra-abdominal testicle into the scrotum; however, this approach has not been adopted by many for a number of reasons. The microvascular skill and instrumentation required for a successful anastomosis are not universally available and there is a misconception that the procedure is a lengthy one (Bianchi, Br J Urol 56:521-524, 1984; Bogaert et al., Urology 42:182-188, 1993). We present our series for testicular autotransplantation used over a 17 year period with a greater than 95% success.