Abstract
Performing a correctly performed microsurgical vasectomy reversal is so much more than throwing a few microsutures. There are a number of preparations the surgeon should take as well as key concepts before and during the reversal to ensure that the patient receives the very best care and surgical outcomes. It is important to understand crucial principals about preserving the tissues, locating the vasal defect, confirming abdominal patency, and transecting the vas. Analysis of the vasal fluid, both gross and microscopic, guides the intraoperative decision-making as to whether to perform a vasovasostomy or vasoepididymostomy. Challenges often occur with indeterminate vasal fluid with concerns about cross contamination. Sperm banking during the reversal is an option to be discussed preoperatively with the patient.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
American Urological Association; American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Antibiotic prophylaxis for urological patients with total joint replacements. J Urol. 2003;169:1796–7.
Wolf JS Jr, Bennett CJ, Dmochowski RR, Hollenbeck BK, Pearle MS, Schaeffer AJ. Best practice policy statement on urologic surgery antimicrobial prophylaxis. J Urol. 2008;179(4):1379–90.
Lowe G. Optimizing outcomes in vasectomy: how to ensure sterility and prevent complications. Transl Androl Urol. 2016;5(2):176–80.
Jarvi K, Grober ED, Lo KC, Patry G. Mini-incision microsurgical vasectomy reversal using no-scalpel vasectomy principles and instruments. Urology. 2008;72:913–5.
Grober ED, Jarvi K, Lo KC, Shin EJ. Mini-incision vasectomy reversal using no-scalpel vasectomy principles: efficacy and postoperative pain compared with traditional approaches to vasectomy reversal. Urology. 2011;77:602–6.
Werthman P. Mini-incision microsurgical vasoepididymostomy: a new surgical approach. Urology. 2007;70:794–6.
Schulster ML, Cohn MR, Najari BB, Goldstein M. Microsurgically assisted inguinal hernia repair and simultaneous male fertility procedures: rationale, technique and outcomes. J Urol. 2017;198(5):1168–74.
Schulster ML, Cohn MR, Najari BB, Goldstein M. Microsurgically assisted inguinal hernia repair and simultaneous male fertility procedures: rationale, technique and outcomes. J Urol. 2017;198(5):1168–74.
Nagler HM, Belletete BA, Gerber E, Dinlenc CZ. Laparoscopic retrieval of retroperitoneal vas deferens in vasovasostomy for postinguinal herniorrhaphy obstructive azoospermia. Fertil Steril. 2005;83:1842.
Shaeer OK, Shaeer KZ. Pelviscrotal vasovasostomy: refining and troubleshooting. J Urol. 2005;174:1935–7.
Lizza EF, Marmar JL, Schmidt SS, Lanasa JA Jr, Sharlip ID, Thomas AJ, Belker AM, Nagler HM. Transseptal crossed vasovasostomy. J Urol. 1985;134:1131–2.
Sabanegh E, Thomas AJ. Effectiveness of crossover transseptal vasoepididymostomy in treating complex obstructive azoospermia. Fertil Steril. 1995;63(2):392–5.
Crosnoe LE, Kim ED, Perkins AR, Marks MB, Burrows PJ, Marks SH. Angled vas cutter for vasovasostomy: technique and results. Fertil Steril. 2014;101(3):636–9.
Patel SR, Sigman M. Comparison of outcomes of vasovasostomy performed in the convoluted and straight vas deferens. J Urol. 2008;179:256–9.
Sandlow JI, Kolettis PN. Vasovasostomy in the convoluted vas deferens: indications and outcomes. J Urol. 2005;173:540–2.
Ostrowski KA, Tadros NN, Polackwich AS, McClure RD, Fuchs EF, Hedges JC. Factors and practice patterns that affect the decision for vasoepididymostomy. Can J Urol. 2017;24(1):8651–5.
Elzanaty S, Dohle GR. Vasovasostomy and predictors of vasal patency: a systematic review. Scand J Urol Nephrol. 2012;46:241–6.
Hinz S, Rais-Bahrami S, Weiske WH, Kempkensteffen C, Schrader M, Miller K, et al. Prognostic value of intraoperative parameters observed during vasectomy reversal for predicting postoperative vas patency and fertility. World J Urol. 2009;27(6):781–5.
Kirby EW, Hockenberry M, Lipshultz LI. Vasectomy reversal: decision making and technical innovations. Transl Androl Urol. 2017;6(4):753–60.
Kolettis PN, Burns JR, Nangia AK, Sandlow JI. Outcomes for vasovasostomy performed when only sperm parts are present in the vasal fluid. J Androl. 2006;27:565–7.
Kolettis PN, D'Amico AM, Box L, et al. Outcomes for vasovasostomy with bilateral intravasal azoospermia. J Androl. 2003;24:22–4.
Jarow JP, Sigman M, Buch JP, Oates RD. Delayed appearance of sperm after end-to-side vasoepididymostomy. J Urol. 1995;153:1156–8.
Ramasamy R, Mata DA, Jain L, Perkins AR, Marks SH, Lipshultz LI. Microscopic visualization of intravasal spermatozoa is positively associated with patency after bilateral microsurgical vasovasostomy. Andrology. 2015;3(3):532–5.
Scovell JM, Mata DA, Ramasamy R, Herrel LA, Hsiao W, Lipshultz LI. Association between the presence of sperm in the vasal fluid during vasectomy reversal and postoperative patency: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Urology. 2015;85(4):809–13.
Sheynkin YR, Chen ME, Goldstein M. Intravasal azoospermia: a surgical dilemma. BJU Int. 2000;85:1089–92.
Shin YS, Sang KSD, Park JK. Preoperative factors influencing postoperative results after vasovasostomy. World J Mens Health. 2012;30(3):177–82.
Sigman M. The relationship between intravasal sperm quality and patency rates after vasovasostomy. J Urol. 2004;171:307–9.
Smith RP, Khanna A, Kovac JR, et al. The significance of sperm heads and tails within the vasal fluid during vasectomy reversal. Indian J Urol. 2014;30:164–8.
Belker AM, Thomas AJ Jr, Fuchs EF, Konnak JW, Sharlip ID. Results of 1,469 microsurgical vasectomy reversals by the Vasovasostomy study group. J Urol. 1991;145:505–11.
Silber SJ. Microscopic vasectomy reversal. Fertil Steril. 1977;28:1191–202.
Glazier DB, Marmar JL, Mayer E, Gibbs M, Corson SL. The fate of cryopreserved sperm acquired during vasectomy reversals. J Urol. 1999;161:463–6.
Boyle KE, Thomas AJ Jr, Marmar JL, Hirshberg S, Belker AM, Jarow JP. Sperm harvesting and cryopreservation during vasectomy reversal is not cost effective. Fertil Steril. 2006;85:961–4.
Schrepferman CG, Carson MR, Sparks AE, Sandlow JI. Need for sperm retrieval and cryopreservation at vasectomy reversal. J Urol. 2001;166:1787–9.
Chan PT. The evolution and refinement of vasoepididymostomy techniques. Asian J Androl. 2013;15:49–55.
Peng J, Yuan Y, Zhang Z, Gao B, Song W, et al. Patency rates of microsurgical vasoepididymostomy for patients with idiopathic obstructive azoospermia: a prospective analysis of factors associated with patency – single-center experience. Urology. 2012;79:119–22.
Baker K, Sabanegh E. Obstructive azoospermia: reconstructive techniques and results. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2013;68(Suppl 1):61–73.
Chan PT, Brandell RA, Goldstein M. Prospective analysis of outcomes after microsurgical intussusception vasoepididymostomy. BJU Int. 2005;96:598–601.
Pavlovich CP, Schlegel PN. Fertility options after vasectomy: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Fertil Steril. 1997;67(1):133–41.
Shridharani A, Sandlow JI. Vasectomy reversal versus IVF with sperm retrieval: which is better? Curr Opin Urol. 2010;20:503–9.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Marks, S.H.F. (2019). Vasectomy Reversal: The First Steps. In: Vasectomy Reversal . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00455-2_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00455-2_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-00454-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-00455-2
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)