TTP7.14 Audit of Management of Testicular Torsion in a Rural General Hospital

Aims Patients who present with suspected testicular torsion to our hospital are managed by the on-all general surgeons because of long travel time to the nearest hospital where urology service is provided. Currently there is no established guidelines/protocol locally or in the Health Board regarding management of this condition. The aim of this audit is to review the management of all patients who presented to our hospital with suspected “Testicular Torsion” over the last 5 years and compare it against the available national & international guidelines aiming to develop a local protocol. Methods A retrospective study included all the patients who underwent scrotal exploration for suspected testicular torsion in our hospital between January 2019 and January 2024. Patient were identified from emergency theatre surgical register and Information Technology department. Data were collected from the patients’ notes, Welsh Clinical Portal and Welsh Patient Administration System. Results 34 patients had exploration of the scrotum for suspected torsion during this period. 13 patients were found to have torsion testicle, the testicle was found to be non-viable in 4 out of them. 3 patients with testicular torsion with non-viable testicle on exploration presented very late after onset of symptoms (1-3 days). Conclusions Management of these cases is done in a timely manner however a local protocol is being developed includes direct referral to the on-call surgical registrar to further decrease time to theatre. It includes TWIST score to guide diagnosis. Raising awareness of children and their carers/parents is of paramount importance.