📃 Paper Title: Results of 1,469 microsurgical vasectomy reversals by the Vasovasostomy Study Group
🧍 Author: Belker
🕒 Year: 1991
📚 Journal: The Journal of Urology
🌎 Country: USA
ㅤContext to the study:
Do you know any evidence which can be quoted to patients who inquire about the success rates of vasectomy reversal?
ㅤ✅ Take-home message of study:
This study of reported outcomes of 1,469 microsurgical vasectomy reversals by the Vasovasostomy Study Group.
Age, duration of obstruction, and the presence of sperm in the fluid obtained during the procedure all affected the success of microsurgical vasectomy reversal.
ㅤ Prospective, multicentre observational study
5 institutions in the USA
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Study participants:
1,469 consecutive vasectomy reversals from 1976 to May 1985
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Key study outcomes:
Time from vasectomy to reversal:
< 3 years; patency 97% and pregnancy 76%
3-8 years; patency 88% and pregnancy 53%
9-14 years; patency 79% and pregnancy 44%
15 years; patency 71% and pregnancy 30%
No difference in patency and pregnancy rates between 2-layer microsurgical vasovasostomy and modified 1-layer microsurgical procedures.
Mean time from vasectomy reversal to conception 12.4 months.
Repeat microsurgical reversal procedures were less successful.
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Study Limitations:
19% of patients lost to follow-up
Cases performed by multiple surgeons
Potential positive reporting bias of pregnancy rates by excluding patients with <24months follow-up
Omission of post-operative sperm motility and morphology
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