The bipolar needle for vasectomy. I. Experience with the first 1000 cases

Abstract

A battery-powered, bipolar electrocoagulator has been specifically developed for sealing the cut ends of the divided vas at vasectomy. With a minimum of electric power, the electrocoagulator destroys only the mucosa and one or two muscle cell layers of the vas, which leads to optimal fibrosis of the cut ends. This instrument has been used in more than 1000 vasectomies without a known failure and with a minimum of complications. An analysis of these cases is reported with emphasis upon the method's success in sealing the vas.

PIP: Experience with the bipolar needle in the 1st 1000 cases is reported. All vasa were electrocoagulated with the battery-powered, bipolar electrocoagulator under local anesthesia in the office. This instrument requires a minimum of electric power and destroys only the mucosa and 1 or 2 muscle cell layers. The patients ranged in ages between 20 and 68 (82.5% were between the ages of 20 and 40). The number of living children whom these men had fathered ranged from 0 to 9 (53.2% had 2 children and 9.4% had 4 or more). The analysis confirms the statement that the electrocoagulation, fascial interposition technique has never failed in the author's hands. When the results are compared with ligation and monopolar techniques, the figures cited for wound infection, hematomas, and congestive epididymitis are so similar that they prove the only difference is in the type of cautery used. The low incidence of granulomas (.4%) indicated that the bipolar needle is an effective instrument for sealing the cut vas without ligatures, clips, or other devices.