Treatment for Vas Deferens Obstruction Following Childhood Herniorrhaphy

Abstract

Objective: To enhance the management of inguinal obstruction, and to present the procedures and results of our surgical strategy for vas deferens obstruction following childhood herniorrhaphy.

Methods: We treated a total of 56 patients diagnosed with obstructive azoospermia following bilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy. First, conventional inguinal open surgery was performed. If the abdominal vas was not identified in the inguinal region, laparoscopy was used to retrieve the deeper abdominal vas deferens, which was obstructed above the internal inguinal ring. Then, microsurgical vasovasostomy (VV) was performed. Overall patency and natural pregnancy rates were determined.

Results: We terminated the surgery in 16 patients with pasty vasal fluid and no sperm. When bilateral remnants of the vas deferens were found, laparoscopic mobilization was not required, and 22 (55.0%) patients underwent bilateral VV with patency and natural pregnancy rates of 90.9% (20 of 22) and 50.0% (11 of 22), respectively. When a unilateral end could not be found, 7 (17.5%) patients underwent unilateral laparoscopy-assisted VV plus unilateral VV, with patency and natural pregnancy rates of 85.7% (6 of 7) and 42.9% (3 of 7), respectively. When bilateral ends were not found, 11 (27.5%) patients underwent bilateral laparoscopy-assisted VV, with patency and natural pregnancy rates of 81.8% (9 of 11) and 27.3% (3 of 11), respectively. Overall, our surgery yielded a patency rate of 87.5% (35 of 40) and a natural pregnancy rate of 42.5% (17 of 40).

Conclusion: Our treatment for vas deferens obstruction following childhood herniorrhaphy yielded good postoperative outcomes in terms of sperm concentration and motility, vas patency, and natural pregnancy, with no complications.