Timely intervention by Navi Mumbai docs helps student avoid testicle removal 

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Doctors in Navi Mumbai gave a new lease of life to a 21-year-old college student who was rushed to the emergency department with sudden and severe pain in the scrotal region, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. 

The man was immediately evaluated, where clinical examination revealed swelling and marked tenderness of the left scrotum. A scrotal Doppler showed left testicular torsion with complete cut-off of blood supply, prompting the surgical team to immediately shift him to the operation theatre. Timely exploration and correction of the twisted spermatic cord restored blood flow to the testicle, helping the team save the organ and avoid its removal.
 
The engineering student had developed severe pain in the left scrotal region along with nausea and vomiting. He visited Medicover Hospital and was referred by Dr Swapnil Pawar to the emergency. On examination, the left side of the scrotum was swollen and tender. He was immediately admitted, started on pain medication and antibiotics, and underwent a scrotal Doppler examination. The scan confirmed testicular torsion with complete interruption of blood flow. Considering the risk of permanent damage to the testicle, the patient was taken up for emergency surgery by Dr Vikas Bhise without any delay.
 
Dr Vikas Bhise, urologist at Medicover Hospitals in Navi Mumbai, said, “Testicular torsion occurs when the spermatic cord twists and blocks the blood supply to the testicle. It requires immediate surgical treatment, ideally within about 4–6 hours of symptom onset, as the chances of permanent damage increase as the duration of blood-flow interruption increases. Testicular torsion can sometimes occur without any obvious injury or physical activity and may even happen during sleep or rest. The condition is most commonly seen in adolescents and young men, and an underlying anatomical variation called a bell-clapper deformity can increase the risk.  Symptoms such as sudden scrotal pain, swelling in one testicle, nausea, vomiting, or a testicle appearing higher than usual, lower abdominal pain, or an unusually high position of the affected testicle need timely attention. Anyone who develops sudden severe testicular pain should not wait for the pain to settle or try to manage it at home. Immediate assessment in an emergency department is essential because surgery performed within the first few hours offers the best chance of saving the testicle.”
 
Dr Bhise further added, “Testicular torsion can occur spontaneously, including during sleep or routine daily activities, without any obvious injury. Testicular torsion is a surgical emergency in which the spermatic cord twists and cuts off the blood supply to the testicle. In this patient, the Doppler showed a complete cut-off of blood flow, so there was no scope for delaying treatment. We immediately shifted him to the operation theatre for exploration. With the support of the anaesthetist, Dr. Supriya, and scrub nurse Mr. Vinayak, the twisted testicle was explored, and the blood supply was restored. Once circulation returned, the testicle showed recovery, allowing us to preserve the organ rather than remove it. In such cases, every hour matters because prolonged loss of blood supply can cause irreversible damage.”
 
The definitive treatment is emergency surgery, during which the spermatic cord is untwisted, and the testicle is assessed for recovery of blood supply. “Scrotal exploration with bilateral orchidopexy bilateral sides. In this procedure, we open up and look at the condition of the testis, and it was dusky. After derotation and putting warm saline, the colour changed back to normal. The testicles are generally secured with stitches to prevent future torsion. If the blood supply has been interrupted for too long and the testicular tissue is no longer viable, removal of the affected testicle, known as an orchiectomy, may become necessary. The uneventful surgery lasted for 20 minutes, and the patient was discharged after one day with scrotal Doppler showing normal blood supply. In this case, the prompt diagnosis and immediate surgical intervention allowed blood flow to the affected testicle to be restored, helping the team preserve the organ,” explained Dr Vikas Bhise. 
 
The student’s family said, “We were extremely worried when we were told that the blood supply to his testicle had been completely cut off. We are grateful to the doctors and the entire team for acting quickly.”