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Microsurgical vasoepididymostomy in the treatment of occlusive azoospermia
Author(s) -
Boeckx W.,
van Helden S.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
british journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 0007-1331
DOI - 10.1046/j.1464-410x.1996.93417.x
Subject(s) - vasovasostomy , anastomosis , medicine , azoospermia , sperm , surgery , sperm quality , microsurgery , infertility , population , andrology , biology , pregnancy , environmental health , family planning , research methodology , genetics
Objective To evaluate the practice and outcome of the end‐to‐end and end‐to‐side techniques of vasoepididymostomy for the treatment of occlusive azoospermia Patients and methods This retrospective study comprised 31 unselected patients (mean age 32 years, range 22–59) operated on with one of two techniques, more usually a modified end‐to‐side technique. Sperm quality and paternity were assessed in 24 patients during a 2‐year follow‐up Results Of the 15patients in whom sperm were found at anastomosis, sperm were retrieved from 11. Of 24 patients, 11 had patent anastomoses and paternity was achieved in three cases. Conclusion Although performed by a proficient microsurgeon the operative success rate was low, partly because the operation was technically demanding but largely because of the difficulty in assessing intra‐operatively the level of occlusion and the quality of the sperm. Better techniques for the evaluation of sperm during the operation should be developed.