IMPROVED TECHNIQUE FOB HYDROCELECTOMY IN CHILDREN EDUARDO CAFKABENA, M.D. From the Urological Service, Hospital G. G. Benavente, Concepcion, Chile

Hydroce!e in children is generally secondary to the persistence of the processus vaginalis. At our institution, the tendency," has been not to operate until the age of eighteen months, because we have seen that 70 percent of the eases diagnosed during the first months of life resolved spontaneously. T h e t e c h n i q u e w e describe involves minimal mobilization of the cord and reduces the risk of vascular and/or vas injuries. Technique ~Vith the patient under general anesthesia, we insert a 25-gauge, 1-inch needle through the hydrocele sac. ~I~'o to 3 cc of hydroeele fluid are drawn, and the same amount of a solution of 9.1 methylene blue in saline is injected. VVethen

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gently massage the scrotum. An i~: sion is made, and immediately we proeessus vaginalis deeply stain< Without dissecting the cord, we fre~ sus and ligate the proximal end as h ble. The hydroeele is then aspirated distal portion, leaving the proeesai inguinal incision is then elosed. We have operated on 25 paeier~ts ages of two and four. In aiI cases , an excellent stain of the processus v complications occurred, and the s~ was reduced bv half.

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VOLUME XXXV;