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Communicating HydroceleAka: Hydrocele in Infants

See Also
1. Hydrocele
2. Genitourinary Examination in Infants
Pathophysiology
1. Incomplete obliteration of processus vaginalis
2. Open communication between peritoneum and tunica
  1. Closes spontaneously in the first year of life
Symptoms and Signs
1. See Hydrocele
Management
1. Aspiration not helpful since open communication
2. Withold surgery until after first year of life
  1. Most will resolve spontaneously
3. Surgery for:
  1. Large or enlarging Hydrocele
  2. Indirect Inguinal Hernia (requires surgery ASAP)
Complications (Untreated large Hydrocele)
1. Incarcerated Hernia or Strangulated Hernia
References
1. Kaplan (2000) Pediatr Rev 21(9):311
2. Skoog (1995) Urol Clin North Am 22:119

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This page was written by Scott Moses, MD. This page was last revised before 5/10/08, prior to consistent tracking of revision date. This page was last published on 6/1/2008. Please send comments and questions to the editor. Contact information may be found on the page About the Family Practice Notebook. These pages are best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.