Journal of Clinical Case Reports

Laparoscopic Intracorporeal Hydrocelectomy and Posterior Wall Suture Repair of the Hydrocele for the Canal of Nuck

Abstract

Pyoungjae Park and Sung Ryul Lee

Background: Hydrocele of the canal of Nuck (HCN) causes inguinal swelling in women. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of laparoscopic intracorporeal hydrocelectomy and posterior wall suture repair for treating HCN. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 56 adult female patients with HCN at Damsoyu Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea, from September 2012 to July 2016. Results: Of the 56 patients, encysted hydroceles were observed in 43 (76.8%) and communicating hydroceles were observed in 13 (23.2%). Among the 43 patients with encysted hydroceles, 30 (69.8%) had serous hydroceles, 12 (27.9%) had hemorrhagic hydroceles, and one (2.3%) had an inflammatory hydrocele. Fifteen (28.6%) patients, especially those with hemorrhagic hydroceles (11/12) and one with an inflammatory hydrocele (1/1), complained of inguinal pain (p<0.001). No recurrence was observed during the follow-up period. Conclusion: HCN should be considered during the differential diagnosis of hernia in women with inguinal swelling. The diagnosis was made with preoperative ultrasonography, and laparoscopic intracorporeal hydrocelectomy with posterior wall repair was performed as an effective treatment.