title: Experimental study of hollow, absorbable polyglycolic acid tube as stent for vasovasostomy.
abstract: Bilateral vasovasostomy in 16 rats permitted evaluation of a microsurgical technique using an original absorbable hollow stent made of polyglycolic acid. Advantages of this stent included ease of anastomosis, maintenance of luminal patency, satisfactory approximation of vasal ends, and reduction of perivasal inflammation possibly due to reduction of extravasation of sperm. Absorbable stents were eliminated within four weeks of placement, and patency was confirmed by histologic studies performed two, four, and six weeks after vasovasostomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Flam
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Gagne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014669:Vasovasostomy / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D011100:Polyglycolic Acid