Aspiration and injection of sclerosant for treatment of a hydrocoele
A hydrocoele is a collection of fluid around the testicle. It is a benign condition, but can cause discomfort and annoying symptoms due to its size and location.
Usually, a symptomatic hydrocoele is best treated with an operation.
However, a proportion of men are suitable to have a less invasive procedure. Simple aspiration or removal of fluid is not an effective treatment in itself since the fluid reaccumulates quite rapidly. However, after the removal of the fluid, we can inject sclerosant (in this case ethanol) which creates a reaction to eliminate the space where the fluid forms. This is less invasive than an operation and the costs are less.
A study from the Waikato urology unit showed that this was an effective treatment. A proportion of men needed a second aspiration and injection of sclerosant, and after a second injection, the cure rate was 80%.
It can also be used for the treatment of large epididymal cysts.
For more information on the study click here.
