THE POSTVASECTOMY LENGTH OF THE TESTICULAR VASAL REMNANT - A PREDICTOR OF SURGICAL OUTCOME IN MICROSCOPIC VASECTOMY REVERSAL

To identify another preoperative predictor of surgical outcome in vasa l reconstruction, we prospectively measured the post-vasectomy length of the testicular vas deferens from the cauda of the epididymis to the site of the vasectomy in 26 patients undergoing vasal reconstruction. Intraoperatively, the vasal fluid was microscopically inspected and c lassified as whole sperm present or whole sperm absent. The length of the testicular vasal remnant was correlated with the intraoperative st atus of the vasal fluid. A testicular vasal remnant length greater tha n 2.7 cm. predicted the presence of fluid with whole sperm present in 30 of 32 testicles (94%). A testicular vasal length of less than 2.7 c m. predicted the presence of fluid without whole sperm in 17 of 20 tes ticles (85%). The length of the testicular vasal remnant can be measur ed preoperatively and knowledge of this length may be used to advise p atients regarding the likelihood of successful vasal reconstruction.