Aim To evaluate testes after unilateral orchiopexy Laser Doppler and white light spectroscopy and compare microcirculation with contralaterat testis and healthy controls.

Methods A combination of the laser Doppler (determination of blood flow) and white light spectroscopy (determination of oxygen saturation and hemoglobin amount) is used to determine microcirculation at two different depth levels non-invasively. Patients were recruited after unilateral orchiopexy. Controls were age-matched boys without relevant disease. Ethical approval was obtained.

Results 99 patients were included after unilateral orchiopexy at the age of 3.5 years (+-2.9 years). 65% underwent surgery after their second birthday. Follow-up was at median 2.5 years after surgery (3months – 10.5 years). Controls were 29 boys at the age of median 6.3 years (3 month–13 years). There was no significant difference in age between both groups.

85 patients were examined on the operated side with laser doppler and white light spectroscopy. Significant higher flow and velocity were found contralateral (p=0.041, p=0.022). Surprisingly, when comparing the contralateral testes in patients after orchiopexy with healthy controls, flow and velocity were significantly higher in the healthy controls (p<0.001), even though this testis was previously not operated on.

Conclusion After orchiopexy, expected differences were found in microcirculation between the operated and contralateral testes or healthy controls. Surprisingly, the contralateral testes’ microcirculation was also significantly different from controls. This is probably not a consequence of surgery alone, but more likely a common problem of both testes in the affected patients.