title: Stented laser-welded vasovasostomy in the rat: comparison of Nd:YAG and CO2 lasers.
abstract: In 54 male Sprague-Dawley rats, 108 vasovasostomies were performed. Sutureless laser welding with the assistance of a removable stent was done using a CO2- and an Nd:YAG-laser system. Conventional two-layer microsurgical anastomoses served as controls. The Nd:YAG laser resulted in significantly lower patency rates, with a higher percentage of sperm granulomas; the CO2 laser produced results equivalent to conventional suturing. Sutureless laser welding utilizing a removable stent proved to be a time- and cost-saving procedure for vasovasostomies in the rat.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Herne, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alefelder
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Philipp
authors.forename: U H
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Engelmann
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Senge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D015607:Stents; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000473:pathology; D014669:Vasovasostomy / Q000379:methods