Orchiopexy Home Care Instructions

An orchiopexy is done when the testicle has not moved down into the scrotal sac. It may need to be done on one or both sides. A cut is made in the groin and the testicle is brought down into the scrotum.

What to expect after surgery:

• Most children are fussy for the first few hours after surgery. Parents will be invited to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) soon after your child awakens.
• There will be a clear plastic dressing or white tape strips over the incision.
• There may be a small amount of bloody drainage from the wound.
• There may be some bruising in the scrotal area and the sac may be swollen.
• There will be a dimple on the scrotum from a stitch placed on the inside. This will go away when the stitch dissolves. There may also be a clear plastic dressing over the dimple.
• You may notice a red/flushed color on your child's face and chest. This splotchy, red flushing is due to the medicine received in surgery. This will soon fade.

Guidelines to follow:

• A non-aspirin pain reliever may be used for pain relief if needed. Follow the doctor’s instructions about which medication to use.
• Bring loose fitting clothes for your child to wear after surgery. However, sometimes wearing underwear/diaper provides support for the surgical site.
• Keep the wound clean and dry.
• Your child can have a tub bath the day after surgery but will not be able to submerge in the tub for 1-2 weeks. Do not remove the white strips or clear plastic dressing, these will fall off on their own and will not need to be replaced.
• Minor bleeding can be controlled by placing a clean, soft cloth over the area and applying pressure for five minutes over the incision.

Activity:

• Today, your child will want to rest in bed and get up to go to the bathroom.
• After today, your child may be up and about but needs to be limited to quiet play. Your child may not participate in gym, climb, play sports, or ride straddle toys (such as a tricycle or toy horse) until his doctor allows these activities.
• Your child’s doctor will tell you when he can return to school. 

Call your child’s doctor if:

• Your child's wound looks red or has yellow drainage.
• Bleeding persists after five minutes of applied pressure.
• Your child's temperature is greater than 101.5 F rectally or by mouth. Slightly increased temperature after surgery is normal. You should take your child's temperature once before
  bedtime tonight.
• Your child has vomiting that lasts more than six hours or if the vomiting is severe. Your child's nurse will discuss this with you before your child goes home.
• There are signs of dehydration. Your child can become dehydrated when he has prolonged or severe vomiting and is not able to drink enough fluid to keep up with the loss.

Signs of dehydration:

• Dry mouth
• Decreased amount of urine, which means fewer wet diapers than usual in an infant/toddler
• Sunken look around eyes
• No tears when crying

This is intended as a general guide for home care after surgery. Please follow specific instructions from your child’s doctor and call the office if you have questions.