Measurement of Inguinal and Scrotal Temperature in Children

Abstract

Inguinal and scrotal temperatures were measured by thermometer in 45 children undergoing inguinal surgical procedures with general anesthesia. Temperature measurements were taken from the skin surface and subcutis of the inguinal, suprascrotal and scrotal areas. Intrascrotal temperature inside the dartos muscle was also measured at the scrotum. Temperatures on the unaffected side were examined separately from temperatures on the side of the lesion. Temperatures in the cryptorchid side were also compared with that on the unaffected side. The temperature difference between the subcutaneous area and inside the dartos muscle in the scrotal region for the unaffected side was 0.9 °C. This difference was statisfically significant. This finding suggests that a testis enclosed in the dartos pouch from orchidopexy lies in a lower environmental temperature than the unaffected testis. But we think this temperature difference has no effect on the function of the testis. Intrascotal temperature on the cryptorchid side was slightly higher than that on the unaffected side. We think it is necessary to examine the effect the dartos pouch has on the testis in orchidopexy.