Hydrocele Repair

Hydrocele repair is an outpatient procedure performed on male infants, boys and men to alleviate a common condition in which fluid accumulates around a testicle. Babies born with a hydrocele may not require surgery because the condition usually goes away by itself within the first two years. However, a painful, overly large or infected hydrocele or a hydrocele that impairs blood flow may require such intervention. The procedure takes place with the patient under general anesthesia and is slightly different depending on whether it is performed on an infant or adult. In infants, an incision is made in the fold of the groin in order to drain the fluid, while in adults, this cut is most often made in the scrotum. All or part of the sac that holds the fluid will also be removed, and hernia repair is accomplished when required.