Hydrocele—a buildup of fluid around the testicle—is fairly common in young boys and usually painless, but it needs medical attention because it can affect testicular development if left untreated. When fluid can move between the abdomen and scrotum (communicating hydrocele), surgery is typically recommended.
Researchers at a leading medical centre have developed a new technique using a modified single-port nephroscope: a tiny camera inserted through one small incision at the belly button. The surgeon uses specially designed instruments to seal the opening allowing fluid to accumulate, minimising tissue damage throughout.
Surgery in minutes, not hours
In a study of 65 boys aged 1.5 to 8 years, this new approach was successful in every single case. Each surgery took just 8–10 minutes, and all children went home within 24 hours. Pain dropped from mild discomfort at 6 hours to barely noticeable by 24 hours. During follow-up periods of up to 18 months, there were zero cases of the hydrocele returning, no testicular damage, and no other complications.
Real benefits for families managing paediatric surgery
Because the procedure is so quick and minimally invasive, it reduces burden on surgical schedules and may help shorten wait times—a concern for many families in Singapore. For your child, this means less pain, faster return to school and play, and minimal scarring (just a tiny mark at the belly button). The short operative time and single-day discharge also reduce hospitalisation costs, a practical advantage whether you access care through subsidised or private channels.
What to do if your child has hydrocele
- Ask your paediatrician or urologist specifically about single-port nephroscopy as a first-line treatment option for communicating hydrocele.
- Expect your child to return home the next day and resume normal activities within days, with minimal post-operative discomfort.
- Know that this technique carries zero recurrence risk and no testicular complications in the study of 65 boys followed up to 18 months.