The effect of the two-stage laparoscopic Fowler-Stevens operation on testicular growth and risk of atrophy in boys with intra-abdominal testes

INTRODUCTION: The aim of our study was to evaluate testicular growth and risk of atrophy at different lengths of time from the 2SLF-SO in boys with intra-abdominal cryptorchidism. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-seven boys aged one to 24 months were treated for 35 non-palpable testes. Twenty-one boys with 29 IAT underwent a two-stage laparoscopic Fowler-Stephens operation. The patients underwent ultrasound examination of the TV at six time points: before treatment (TP1), 3 months (TP2) and 9–12 months after laparoscopic F-S operation (TP3), 3 months after inguinal orchidopexy (TP4), 3–6 years of age (TP5) and 7–9 years of age (TP6). The testicular atrophy index (TAI) of the affected testicle was calculated. RESULTS: The overall success rate of treatment was 93.1% (27/29). The median volume of the affected testicles before treatment was less than the median TV of the healthy gonad, but increased systematically at the successive time points, showing significant growth between the second and sixth time points (p < 0.02, R = 2.75). The median TAI value decreased at the subsequent time points from the level of 26% at TP1 to 5.4% at TP6, with no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Two-stage laparoscopic Fowler-Stevens operation proved to be an effective procedure for the treatment of intra-abdominal testicles. The undescended testis had a chance to grow and to equalize with the healthy testis after this procedure. The incidence of testicular atrophy was low.