Posthumous sperm retrieval: analysis of time interval to harvest sperm.
BACKGROUND
Current recommendations regarding posthumous sperm retrieval (PSR) are based on a small number of cases. Our purpose was to determine the time interval from death to a successful procedure.


METHODS
Seventeen consecutive PSR procedures in 14 deceased and 3 neurologically brain-dead patients at two male infertility centres [Sheba Medical Center (SMC), Tel-Hashomer, Israel and University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA] were analysed. Main outcome measures were retrieval of vital sperm, pregnancies and births.


RESULTS
PSR methods included resection of testis and epididymis (n = 8), en-block excision of testis, epididymis and proximal vas deferens with vasal irrigation (n = 6), electroejaculation (EEJ) (n = 2) and epididymectomy (n = 1). PSR was performed 7.5-36 h after death. Sperm was retrieved in all cases and was motile in 14 cases. In two cases, testicular and epididymal tissues were cryopreserved without sperm evaluation, and in one case, no motility was detected. IVF and ICSI were performed in two cases in which sperm had been retrieved 30 h after death, and both resulted in pregnancies and live births.


CONCLUSIONS
Viable sperm is obtainable with PSR well after the currently recommended 24-h time interval. PSR should be considered up to 36 h after death, following appropriate evaluation. No correlation was found between cause of death and chance for successful sperm retrieval.
Shefi
Shai
S
Department of Urology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel. sshefi@yahoo.com
Raviv
Gil
G
Eisenberg
Michael L
ML
Weissenberg
Ruth
R
Jalalian
Liza
L
Levron
Jacob
J
Band
Gili
G
Turek
Paul J
PJ
Madgar
Igael
I
D015925:Cryopreservation; D003645:Death, Sudden; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D018579:Patient Selection; D037022:Posthumous Conception / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013081:Sperm Motility; D053625:Sperm Retrieval; D013094:Spermatozoa; D013997:Time Factors; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods