Vasoepididymostomy for the treatment of obstructive azoospermia

To evaluate the efficacy of vasoepididymostomy for the treatment of obstructive azoospermia.Methods A total of 23 patients with obstructive azoospermia who were suspected of obstruction of epididymal tubule underwent scrotal exploration for detection of testis,epididymis and vas deferens.Of them 19 patients who were confirmed to have epididymal obstruction underwent either bilateral or unilateral vasoepididymostomy.Postoperative semen assay,postoperative patency rate and postoperative impregnation rate were followed.Results All the 19 cases who underwent vasoepididymostomy were followed up postoperatively for 8-34 months.Three to 9 months following surgery 9 patients had sperm in the semen assay,with an overall patency rate of 47% (9/19);of them 5 patients achieved impregnation,with a postoperative impregnation rate of 26% (5/19).Conclusion Scrotal exploration is a simple,time-saving and effective technique for both diagnosis and treatment of obstructive azoospermia suspected of obstruction of epididymal tubule.Vasopididymostomy is effective in some of the patinets with obstructive azoospermia,and further investigation is needed.5 refs.5 refs.