부산대학교 도서관

Introduction: Recent consensus statements recommend that orchidopexy for undescended testis is performed between 6 and 12 months of age. We designed a survey to determine what age consultant surgeons believe is the optimal age for orchidopexy as well as surveying other aspects of surgery for testicular maldescent. Methods: An anonymous survey was distributed to 122 UK consultants who participated in an international prospective audit of orchidopexy outcomes. Preferences and management strategies were compared between different groups of surgeons (specialist paediatric general surgeons, specialist paediatric urologists and general surgeons/urologists with an interest in general surgery of childhood [but who mainly treat adult patients]). Results: There were 105 responses (62 specialist paediatric surgeons, 30 specialist paediatric urologists and 13 general surgeons/urologists) from 25 centres. The overall response rate was 86%. The median preferred age for orchidopexy was 10.5 months (range: 3–24 months). This differed significantly between groups, with a median of 12 months among specialist paediatric surgeons, 9 months among specialist paediatric urologists and 12 months among general surgeons/urologists (p = 0.001). Fifty-one consultants (49%) stated that the optimal age to perform orchidopexy was twelve months or more. Respondents cited concerns about the possible long-term effects of general anaesthesia at a young age and higher atrophy rates in younger children as the main reasons for postponing orchidopexy until 12 months. Conclusions: There remains no consensus among surgeons as to the optimal age for orchidopexy. Management practice of undescended testis varies across different surgical specialties, particularly with regard to optimal age of surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]