Materials & Methods
This study has been approved by the Clinical Studies Ethics Board of
University of Health Sciences, Haydarpasa Numune SUAM (Decision Number:
HNEAH-KAEK 2021/KK/138) and the study was conducted in compliance with
the Declaration of Helsinki. Testicular torsion cases were
retrospectively analyzed through our hospital’s electronic archive
system and patients were distributed into 2 groups as “COVID-19 era”
(between 11th of March 2020 – March 2021) and
“pre-COVID-19 era” (between January 2018 and 10th of
March 2020). Ages and laterality of the patients were recorded.
Differential diagnosis of all patients was done with scrotal Doppler
ultrasound. A written informed consent was taken from all patients prior
to procedures. Patients whom manual detorsion were done were recorded
and the vascularity of testis was confirmed with scrotal Doppler
ultrasound after the procedure. The duration of ischemia was calculated
in hours by considering the time between the onset of symptoms and the
moment of detorsion (manual or operational). All perioperative findings
and applied procedures were recorded. All orchiectomy materials were
sent to the pathology department and the results were confirmed as
necrotic tissues.
Since preoperative COVID-19 testing could not be done in patients who
were operated immediately after diagnosis, emergency operations during
pandemic were managed as the operations of COVID-19 positive patients,
with taking preventive measures such as N95 masks and necessary personal
protective equipments. Preoperative PCR (polymerase-chain reaction)
testing was requested to patients whose manual detorsion were
successful. Patients who tested negative for COVID-19 were electively
operated under safer conditions.