title: The vas after vasectomy: comparison of cauterization methods.
abstract: A histologic study of the vas ends was carried out in 21 patients undergoing vasovasostomy. All had undergone prior vasectomy by the same surgeon, with a technique identical except for the type of cautery used to seal the vas ends. A superior sealing of the vas, as shown by fewer cases of vasitis nodosa and spermatic granuloma, followed use of the thermal cautery ("red-hot wire") than the electrosurgical cautery (23% vs 60.7% suboptimal sealing rate). The thermal cautery is a superior method of sealing the vas at vasectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Minckler
mesh_terms: D002425:Cautery; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D006099:Granuloma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D013243:Sterilization Reversal; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014659:Vasectomy / Q000379:methods*