Orchidopexy

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Your child has an undescended testicle. This means that the testicle has not dropped down to its normal place in the scrotum. It is necessary for your child to have surgery to relocate the testicle to the scrotum and fix it into place to keep it in the correct position. This operation is called an orchidopexy (OR kid o pex ee).

After Surgery

Your child will wake up in the PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit) near the Operating Room. He will be returned to you after the anesthetic has worn off.
  • Your child may feel dizzy and have a headache or sore throat from the anesthetic. This is temporary.
  • Nausea and vomiting are common within 24 hours after the surgery.
  • There is (are):
    • Gauze or tape over the incision(s). This comes off by itself within a week.
    • Skin glue over the incision(s). This dissolves over the next few weeks.

Activity

  • Your child should play quietly for 1 to 2 days.
  • No bike riding, straddle toys, jumping, running or rough play for 2 weeks.
  • No swimming or getting in a pool, lake or the ocean for 2 weeks.
  • No gym class or sports until the doctor says it is OK.
  • There are NO restrictions to the use of car seats. Children should ride in car seats as usual. DO NOT loosen the car seat strap. It is okay for the strap to be snug over the incision area.

Food and Drink

For Children:
Continue with water, clear fruit juices or popsicles. If the child has no trouble with these, you can slowly begin to give solid foods.
 
For Infants:
Infants may have clear liquids such as water, Pedialyte® or watered-down apple juice (mix half water and half juice) or breast milk. If your infant has no trouble with these, he may have regular formula or continue with breast milk. Infants may need to be burped more often than usual the first day after surgery.

Incision Care

  • Do not remove the dressing. It will fall off on its own.
  • The stitches will dissolve and do not need to be removed.
Keep the incision area dry and clean. Shower or shallow tub bathing are OK. Do not put the incision or dressing under the water for 2 weeks.

Pain Medicine

Follow the doctor’s orders for giving medicine for pain:
  • Your child’s doctor has recommended an acetaminophen, such as Tylenol® (See Helping Hand HH-V-58, Acetaminophen).
    • Do not give more than 5 doses of this medicine in a 24-hour period unless ordered by your son’s doctor.
  • The doctor has recommended an ibuprofen, such as Motrin® or Advil®. (See Helping Hand HH-V-206, Ibuprofen,).
  • Your child has been given a prescription or other instructions for pain medicine. Follow the dosing instructions exactly as your doctor has written them.
    • Side effects are rare. If your child develops a skin rash or bruises, stop giving this medicine and call your doctor.
    • Read the label each time before you give your child any medicine.
    • If the medicine is a liquid, always use a measuring device to measure the exact dose. Do not measure liquid medicines in kitchen spoons.
    • Store all medicine out of children’s reach.
    • If your child or someone else takes too much of this medicine, first call the Central Ohio Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. They will tell you what to do.
    • Check for soft daily bowel movements after surgery. Constipation can cause increased pain for your son.

When to Call the Doctor

Call your doctor if your child has:
  • Severe pain that does not get better with pain medicine.
  • Fever over 101 degrees F.
  • Swelling, drainage, or redness around the wound.
  • Nausea and (or) vomiting after 24 hours.
If you have any questions or your child is having problems after normal office hours, call the doctor on call at:
  • Pediatric General Surgery: 614-722-3900.
  • Pediatric Urology Surgery: 614-722-6630.
In an emergency, call 911.

Follow up

  • A nurse from surgery clinic will call you in 3 to 4 weeks.
  • Please call your child’s doctor’s office to schedule a follow-up appointment.

Orchidopexy (PDF)

HH-I-47 11/84 Revised 7/15 Copyright 1984, Nationwide Children’s Hospital