Infertility Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Infertility, including details on male and female infertility, treatment, causes, pregnancy.

Early patency rates after the two-suture invagination technique of vaso-epididymal anastomosis for idiopathic obstruction.

Kumar R, Gautam G, Gupta NP

Department of Urology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. rajeev02@gmail.com

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively evaluate the results of vaso-epididymostomy, using a two-suture microsurgical invagination technique, when used for men with azoospermia due to an obstruction at the vaso-epididymal junction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between December 2002 and November 2004, 29 men with idiopathic obstructive azoospermia underwent vaso-epididymostomy with the two-suture invagination technique. The patency rate was assessed by return of sperm in the semen after surgery. RESULTS: In all, 23 men provided at least one postoperative semen sample. The mean (range) follow-up was 7.6 (1.5-30) months. In 11 of these men (48%), patency was shown at a mean of 3.2 (1.5-7) months after surgery. The median sperm density was 17 (10-65) million/mL. Four men had normal sperm density and motility (>20 million/mL; >50% total motility). CONCLUSIONS: Men with idiopathic vaso-epididymal junction obstruction can have significant sperm positivity after vaso-epididymostomy. With a patency rate of nearly half within a year of surgery, vaso-epididymostomy should be the first line of therapy for these men.

Published 10 February 2006 in BJU Int, 97(3): 575-7.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Infertility Research Today. All Rights Reserved.