Recovery from Hydrocelectomy
Repair of the hydrocele is referred to as hydrocelectomy in medical terms. This hydrocele is an accumulation of fluid in the membrane that covers the male testes to the sides and front. This fluid is known as peritoneal fluid whereas the membrane is known as lunica vaginalis.
Occurrence of these hydroceles is usually as a result of a defect in the absorption of tissue fluid. It may also be caused by irritation of lunica vaginalis membrane thereby triggering excessive production of the fluid. The fluid may further fill part of the epididymis found in the scrotum.
A hydrocele can occur at one or both sides of the scrotum. Small cuts that are also known as incisions are made by the doctor in the groin. These cuts are useful in the draining of the fluid accumulation that is inside the hydrocele. The sac which is filled with fluid, is also removed from the scrotum.
The hydrocelectomy surgery eliminates the opening that existed previously between the patient’s belly and his scrotum. As a result, the path through which the fluid flowed from the abdomen to the scrotum is closed. This stops accumulation of the fluid to form hydrocele.
Hydrocele in Children
Some babies are born with these hydroceles. During development in their mother’s womb, the testes relocate from the abdomen to their position in the scrotum.
The channel that allows this movement is supposed to close thereafter but in some cases the closing is not complete. As a result, a hydrocele develops when fluid flows through the open channel to the scrotum hence accumulating.
The hydrocele in babies often disappear a year after birth. Usually it is cases that involve adults that hydrocelectomy is done but it may also be done to babies if the hydrocele does not disappear within a year after birth. During this operation in babies, the hernia may also be corrected incase the child has hernia.
The path to recovery from hydrocelectomy actually begins from the initial step, the diagnosis. Let us take a look into the path to recovery from hydrocelectomy.
I. Events After Hydrocelectomy
After you have undergone the hydrocelectomy surgery, you enter into the recovery period. The recovery room may even be at the comfort of your house or the ward according to your preference.
How Do I Take Care of Myself after Hydrocelectomy
The recovery procedure after undergoing hydrocelectomy involves the following activities;
- You should take regular walks each and every day. This walking exercise should be gradual taking small distances at first which you may increase as days progress. This walking exercise boost the flow of blood thereby preventing constipation and pneumonia.
- Taking a shower. After a hydrocelectomy procedure, the doctor advices on how soon you may take a shower. This is usually a day after the surgery. A complete bath should not be taken for a period of one week after the surgery. At this time the cut from the surgery, incision, should only be pat dry as the rest of the body is bathed.
- Avoid exercises that demand a lot of energy. For a period of two weeks to up to a month, you should not engage in activities such as;
- Doing aerobics
- Jogging
- Bicycle ridding
- Lifting of weights.
- In general the gym should be avoided until your doctor says otherwise.
- Also, chores that involve a lot of physical involvement should be avoided.
4. Get plenty of rest. You should prevent your body as much as possible from getting exhausted. These rest helps in the recovery process. Think of it as a time where being ‘lazy’ is not only okay and but also recommended.
Diet during the Recovery Process
- Take a lot of fluid during the recovery process
- Take foods that are high in fiber. This fiber helps in the digestion process. It helps improve movement of the bowel since bowel movements become a challenge especially after the surgery. Constipation is also prevented by intake of foods high in fiber
- Take food that is low in fat content. These type of food helps to reduce stomach upset and include;
- Boiled chicken
- Yogurt
- Plain rice
- Toast
Medication
- Upon prescription of medicine, the doctor will tell you may start your medicines.
- Taking of painkillers after the surgery should be as instructed by the doctor
- Take medicine after meals except where the doctor specifies otherwise
- Antibodies should also be taken as prescribed. This should stop immediately you feel an improvement.
II. Incision Care
If the incision has strips of tape that were made by the doctor, you should leave the tape untouched until it falls off. The area should always be dry.
Do not use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean the incision. This slows down the healing process of the incision. A gauze bandage could be used to cover the cut.
III. Recovery Period
Hydrocelectomy is a very minor procedure that may even be done as a day care surgery. Toleration to the pain varies from patient to patient but the actual recovery takes a maximum of just a few days. Usually a week to ten days. It is the pain toleration aspect that lead surgeons to prefer different anesthesia for different patients.
IV. Can Hydroceles Be Fatal?
Usually, hydroceles are not known to cause a lot of trouble. This is seen as some doctors even opt for the patient to give time to the hydroceles to see if they disappear without treatment. This is usually what happens in most cases. It is after the waiting time is over and no improvement in the condition is noticed that an operation is necessitated.
Hydroceles can increase significantly in size. However, despite their size, they pose no real threat. They may just cause a little discomfort as a result of their size.
In Conclusion
Hydrocele is a condition that require very minimal effort to recover from. In some cases the condition may even disappear without any medical procedures or drugs been required. However if the hydrocele does not improve after sometime, corrective surgery known as hydrocelectomy may be used. This surgery is a very low risk surgery.
