BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to compare postoperative semen analysis parameters and patency rates of vasovasostomy performed in the convoluted versus straight portion of the vas deferens.
METHODS: Records of patients that underwent bilateral vasovasostomy at the straight (SVV) and convoluted (CVV) vas deferens by a single surgeon were retrospectively analyzed. The patient’s age, partner’s age, obstructive interval, gross and microscopic appearance of the intraoperative fluid aspirated from the testicular portion of the vas deferens and postoperative semen analysis results were examined. Patency was defined as any sperm in the postoperative ejaculate and was compared for the two groups.
RESULTS: A total of 42 and 64 patients underwent bilateral SVV and CVV respectively. The mean patient age was 38.5 and 40.3 years respectively. The mean obstructive interval for SVV and CVV was 7.7 and 8.6 years. No statistically significant differences in the postoperative semen analysis parameters of volume, total count, sperm density, motility or total motile count were found between the two groups. The patency rate was 98.1% and 97.3% for CVV and SVV respectively and was not statistically different.
CONCLUSIONS: Although vasovasostomy in the convoluted vas deferens is considered technically more challenging than in the straight vas deferens, patency rates and postoperative semen analysis parameters for CVV and SVV were comparable.