Epididymal Dissociation to Facilitate Vasectomy Reversal in a Patient With Sizeable Vasal Defect: A Case Report.

Abstract

Background: Close to a quarter of men seek paternity after vasectomy. Microsurgical vasectomy reversal is a common choice for men seeking children after vasectomy, with outcomes dependent on surgical expertise and intraoperative decision-making. Here, we describe the case of a patient with an unexpectedly long vasal gap that necessitated the dissection of the tail and midbody of the epididymis from the testis during a vasoepididymostomy.

Case discussion: We report a case of a 31-year-old male who underwent vasectomy reversal that required a rare surgical approach. During the operation, we discovered a secondary distal obstruction and an additional proximal obstruction on the patient's left side, which resulted in a long vasal gap that did not permit a tension-free vasoepididymostomy. To bridge the long gap, the tail and midbody of the epididymis were carefully dissected and mobilized from the testis. Dissociation of the epididymis from the testis allowed a tension-free vasoepididymostomy. Postoperative semen analysis confirmed patency, and the patient had no concerns.

Conclusion: Dissection of the tail and midbody of the epididymis is discussed in textbooks, but is not readily documented in real-world patients. Here, we provide a case discussion where the dissection of the epididymis from the testis was successfully performed to gain additional length to bridge a long vasal gap.