Experimental vas replacement by either vas or a vascular graft

Abstract

An experimental model for vas replacement by transplantation of either vas or a vascular graft in attempt to restore patency in cases of a substance loss of vas that cannot be overcome by vasovasostomy was developed. Three transplant lengths, representing 10, 20 and 30% of the entire vas length, were used. The results showed an overall patency of 43% but for the transplant length representing 10% of the vas patency was achieved in approximately 75% of the cases regardless of the type of transplant used. Unpatency was usually due to occlusion of the proximal anastomosis, which in turn was considered to be due to a combination of unfavourable nutritional, neural and surgical factors. It is concluded that vas replacement by transplantation using either vas or a vascular graft is possible to perform experimentally and gives acceptable patency rates up to a transplant length of 10% of the entire vas length.