Modified double-armed suture technique for microsurgical vasoepididymostomy and its clinical efficacy

Abstract

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of modified double-armed suture technique for microsurgical vasoepididymostomy in patients with epididymal obstructive azoospermia (EOA). Methods The retrospective study included 118 cases with EOA who underwent microsurgical vasoepididymostomy by using modified double-armed suture technique from November 2013 to November 2017, the perioperative complication, the patency rate and the pregnancy rate were analyzed. Results The operating time was （217±56） min. No severe adverse events or complications like spermatocele were observed. Semen analyses were preformed 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months and 18 months after operation. The density of sperm was （25.1±11.5）×106/mL on 18 months after operation, the sperm motility was (38.2±16.4)%, the patency rate was 70.9% (73/103), the pregnancy rate was 38.8% (40/103). Ten couples had healthy babies birth by natural pregnancy. Conclusion Modified double-armed suture technique is an efficacy and safety technique in treating EOA. It's a practical alternative in the areas without the specialized double-armed sutures. Key words: Vasoepididymostomy; Obstructive azoospermia; Microsurgery