A randomized clinical trial of the effect of intraoperative saline perfusion on postvasectomy azoospermia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We wanted to determine whether a saline flush during vasectomy would reduce the time needed to reach azoospermia.

METHODS:

During vasectomy men were randomly assigned to flush the prostatic end of the vas deferens with 10 mL of normal saline (intervention group, n = 50), while the remaining men (n = 56) served as controls. Sperm counts were performed on the immediate postprocedure urine specimen and on semen samples at 1, 6, and 12 weeks after vasectomy.

RESULTS:

The postprocedure urine specimens from the intervention and control groups contained 29.2 x 106 and 0.004 x 106 sperm, respectively (P < .001). Total sperm counts in the ejaculate for intervention and control groups at 1, 6, and 12 weeks were (in millions of sperm): 14.1 and 13.8, 0.4 and 8.0, and 0.0 and 0.011, respectively (P > .05 at all time points). There was no difference in the rate at which the men in the 2 groups achieved azoospermia.

CONCLUSIONS:

Vasal perfusion with saline during vasectomy was effective in removing sperm from the distal vas; however, perfusion did not increase the rate at which men achieve azoospermia.

• Authors: Brian Eisner, Timothy Schuster, Phillip Rodgers, Muzammil Ahmed, Gary Faerber, Gary Smith, Dana Ohl
• Journal: Annals of family medicine (Ann Fam Med) 2004 May-Jun Vol. 2 Issue 3 Pg. 221-3 ISSN: 1544-1709 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15209198 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Sodium Chloride

Topics

• Adult
• Humans
• Intraoperative Care
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Oligospermia (pathology)
• Postoperative Period
• Semen (cytology)
• Sodium Chloride
• Sperm Count (methods)
• Therapeutic Irrigation
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome
• Urine (cytology)
• Vas Deferens (surgery)
• Vasectomy (methods)