The application of scrotoscope-assisted minimally invasive excision for epididymal mass: an initial report

Abstract

\n Background\n\nTraditional open excision of epididymal mass is a non-minimal invasive treatment and brings relatively more postoperative discomfort and complications. To solve this problem, we apply scrotoscope to treat epididymal mass and compare the middle-term efficacy and safety results between scrotoscope-assisted (SA) minimally invasive excision and traditional open excision (OE) for the treatment of epididymal mass.\nMethods\n\nA total of 253 males with surgery excision of epididymal mass from 2012 to 2018 were included in this retrospective study. The primary outcomes included general information, intraoperative data and postoperative data.\nResults\n\n174 patients underwent SA and other 79 underwent OE. Demographic data was similar between the two groups. Compared with OE surgery, SA could significantly shorten operating time (19.4\u2009±\u20094.1 vs 53.8\u2009±\u200912.9 minutes), reduce blood loss (5.3\u2009±\u20091.5 vs 21.3\u2009±\u20095.6 mL) and downsize the operative incision (1.5\u2009±\u20090.3 cm vs 4.5\u2009±\u20090.8 cm). Additionally, postoperative complications were significantly less occurred in SA group than those in OE (15.5 % vs 21.5%). Patients in SA group had a significant higher overall satisfaction score (94.8\u2009±\u20093.7 vs 91.7\u2009±\u20094.9) than that in OE group.\nConclusion\n\nSA is emerging as a novel and effective option with promising perspectives for epididymal mass therapy.