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Laser‐assisted vasovasostomy
Author(s) -
Gilbert Peter T. O.,
Beckert Rainer
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.1900090109
Subject(s) - vasovasostomy , medicine , surgery , anastomosis , dissection (medical) , vasectomy reversal , fibrous joint , prolene , population , research methodology , environmental health , family planning
To find a less time‐consuming alternative to conventional microsurgical vasovasostomy, we performed vasal anastomosis in four sterilized men by means of a Nd:YAG laser (wavelength 1,060 nm) under macroscopic conditions. After dissection of the vasal ends, the ends were approximated using 6‐0 prolene sutures as intervasal stents. The apposed tissue edges were welded by laser pulses of 0.5 sec in duration and 10 W in power. Postoperative sperm counts proved normal in two patients; one of them reported a successful pregnancy in his wife 12 months after vasovasostomy. One patient had cryptospermia and one patient oligoasthenospermia. Laser‐assisted vasovasostomy is a simple procedure and shortens the operative time. More patients still need to be studied to allow a favorable comparison with conventional suture techniques.