Skip to main content

Grafting Techniques for Vasectomy Reversal

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Male Infertility

Abstract

Grafting of the male reproductive tract is an exciting new area of tissue engineering which may allow natural conception for patients with significant lengths of obstructed vas deferens. While stents had a significant and important role in increasing patency and pregnancy rates in the pre-microsurgical era, their role in the modern era of microsurgical two-layered anastomosis remains to be defined. To date, if the vasal obstruction is amenable to a primary watertight, tension-free anastomosis, microsurgical non-stented techniques remain the gold standard. Cases where a tension-free anastomosis is not possible because of the physical length of the obstruction remain problematic, but further research into tissue engineering in the form of implantable conduits holds much promise.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Barone MA, Hutchinson PL, Johnson CH, et al. Vasectomy in the United States, 2002. J Urol. 2006;176:232–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Magnani RJ, Haws JM, Morgan GT, et al. Vasectomy in the United States, 1991 and 1995. Am J Public Health. 1999;89:92–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Holman CD, Wisniewski ZS, Semmens JB, et al. Population-based outcomes after 28,246 in-hospital vasectomies and 1,902 vasovasostomies in Western Australia. BJU Int. 2000;86:1043–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Schiff J, Li PS, Goldstein M. Toward a sutureless vasovasostomy: use of biomaterials and surgical sealants in a rodent vasovasostomy model. J Urol. 2004;172:1192–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Castaldo G, Tomaiuolo R, Vanacore B, et al. Phenotypic discordance in three siblings affected by atypical cystic fibrosis with the F508del/D614G genotype. J Cyst Fibros. 2006;5:193–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Stricker H, Kunin J, Faerber G. Congenital prostatic cyst causing ejaculatory duct obstruction: management by transrectal cyst aspiration. J Urol. 1993;149:1141–3.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Engin G, Kadioglu A, Orhan I, et al. Transrectal US and endorectal MR imaging in partial and complete obstruction of the seminal duct system. A comparative study. Acta Radiol. 2000;41:288–95.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Handelsman DJ, Conway AJ, Boylan LM, et al. Young’s syndrome. Obstructive azoospermia and chronic sinopulmonary infections. N Engl J Med. 1984;310(1):3–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Thomas AH, Sabanegh Jr ES. Microsurgical treatment of male infertility. In: Lipshultz LI, Howards SS, Niederberger CS, editors. Infertility in the Male. 4th ed. New York: Cambridge University; 2009. p. 392–406. A very well written summary of current microsurgical surgical techniques.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kolettis PN, Woo L, Sandlow JI. Outcomes of vasectomy reversal performed for men with the same female partners. Urology. 2003;61:1221–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Silber SJ. Microscopic vasectomy reversal. Fertil Steril. 1977;28:1191–202.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Vrijhof HJ, Delaere KP. Vasovasostomy results in 66 patients related to obstructive intervals and serum agglutinin titres. Urol Int. 1994;53:143–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Belker AM, Thomas Jr AJ, Fuchs EF, et al. “Results of 1,469 microsurgical vasectomy reversals by the Vasovasostomy Study Group. J Urol. 1991;145:505–11.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Vrijhof EJ, de Bruine A, Zwinderman A, et al. New nonabsorbable stent versus a microsurgical procedure for vasectomy reversal: evaluating tissue reactions at the anastomosis in rabbits. Fertil Steril. 2005;84:743–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Carbone Jr DJ, Shah A, Thomas Jr AJ, et al. Partial obstruction, not antisperm antibodies, causing infertility after vasovasostomy. J Urol. 1998;159:827–30.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Vasectomy reversal. Fertil Steril. 2008;90:S78–82.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Lipshultz LI, Rumohr JA, Bennett RC. Techniques for vasectomy reversal. Urol Clin North Am. 2009;36:375–82. The most recent definitive treatise on surgical techniques.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Kolettis PN. Restructuring reconstructive techniques—advances in reconstructive techniques. Urol Clin North Am. 2008;35:229–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Derrick Jr FC, Yarbrough W, D’Agostino J. Vasovasostomy: results of questionnaire of members of the American Urological Association. J Urol. 1973;110:556–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Kim HH, Goldstein M. History of vasectomy reversal. Urol Clin North Am. 2009;36:359–73. A concise and fascinating summary of the history of the vasectomy reversal.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Amelar RD, Dubin L. Vasectomy reversal. J Urol. 1979;121:547–50.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Dorsey JW. Surgical correction of post-vasectomy sterility. J Urol. 1973;110:554–5.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Montie JE, Stewart BH, Levin HS. Intravasal stents for vasovasostomy in canine subjects. Fertil Steril. 1973;24:877–83.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Fernandes M, Shah KN, Draper JW. Vasovasostomy: improved microsurgical technique. J Urol. 1968;100:763–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Rowland R, Nanninga JB, O’Connor VJ. Improved results in vasovasostomies using internal plain catgut stents. Urology. 1977;10:260–2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Silber SJ. Microsurgery in clinical urology. Urology. 1975;6:150–3.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Owen ER. Microsurgical vasovasostomy: a reliable vasectomy reversal. Aust N Z J Surg. 1977;47:305–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Silber SJ, Galle J, Friend D. Microscopic vasovasostomy and spermatogenesis. J Urol. 1977;117:299–302.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Silber SJ. Vasectomy and vasectomy reversal. Fertil Steril. 1978;29:125–40.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Flam TA, Roth RA, Silverman ML, et al. Experimental study of hollow, absorbable polyglycolic acid tube as stent for vasovasostomy. Urology. 1989;33:490–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Rothman I, Berger RE, Cummings P, et al. Randomized clinical trial of an absorbable stent for vasectomy reversal. J Urol. 1997;157:1697–700.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Nudell DM, Conaghan J, Pedersen RA, et al. The mini-micro-epididymal sperm aspiration for sperm retrieval: a study of urological outcomes. Hum Reprod. 1998;13:1260–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Miller C, Shanks H, Witt A, et al. Oriented Schwann cell growth on micropatterned biodegradable polymer substrates. Biomaterials. 2001;22:1263–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Kamischke A, Nieschlag E. Analysis of medical treatment of male infertility. Hum Reprod. 1999;14 Suppl 1:1–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Romero-Maroto J, Escribano G, Egea L, et al. Transplant of a pediculate segment of vas deferens. Experimental study. Eur Urol. 1989;16:133–7.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Gilis J, Borovikov AM. Treatment of vas deferens large defects. Int Urol Nephrol. 1989;21:627–34.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Carringer M, Pedersen J, Schnurer LB. Experimental vas replacement by either vas or a vascular graft. Scan J Urol Neprhol. 1995;29:97–102.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Rutkowski GE, Miller CA, Jeftinija S, et al. Synergistic effects of micropatterned biodegradable conduits and Schwann cells on sciatic nerve regeneration. J Neural Eng. 2004;1:151–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Miller C, Jeftinija S, Mallapragada S. Synergistic effects of physical and chemical guidance cues on neurite alignment and outgrowth on biodegradable polymer substrates. Tissue Eng. 2002;8:367–78.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Labrecque M, Hays M, Chen-Mok M, et al. Frequency and patterns of early recanalization after vasectomy. BMC Urol. 2006;6:25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Stahl BC, Ratliff TL, De Young BR, et al. Involvement of growth factors in the process of post-vasectomy micro-recanalization. J Urol. 2008;179:376–80.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Simons CM, De Young BR, Griffith TS, et al. Early microrecanalization of vas deferens following biodegradable graft implantation in bilaterally vasectomized rats. Asian J Urol. 2009;11:373–8.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Koneru S, Varma Penumathsa S, Thirunavukkarasu M, et al. Sildenafil-mediated neovascularization and protection against myocardial ischaemia reperfusion injury in rats: role of VEGF/angiopoietin-1. J Cell Mol Med. 2008;12:2651–64.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

We would like to thank Kris Greiner for her editorial assistance in preparing this chapter.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Henry M. Rosevear MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Rosevear, H.M., Wald, M. (2012). Grafting Techniques for Vasectomy Reversal. In: Parekattil, S., Agarwal, A. (eds) Male Infertility. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3335-4_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3335-4_9

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-3334-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-3335-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics