Efficacy of epididymectomy in treatment of chronic epididymal pain: a comparison of patients with and without a history of vasectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the surgical outcome in, and satisfaction with treatment of, patients undergoing epididymectomy for postvasectomy pain syndrome.


METHODS
A total of 49 patients were included. All participants had undergone epididymectomy for chronic epididymal pain from January 2000 to June 2009. Of the 49 patients, 4 had undergone bilateral epididymectomy, and the total number of procedures was 53: 18 in patients with postvasectomy pain syndrome (group 1, n = 16), 21 in patients with chronic epididymitis and no history of vasectomy (group 2, n = 19), and 14 in patients with an epididymal cyst and no history of vasectomy (group 3, n = 14). The preoperative and postoperative pain scale scores and surgical outcome were analyzed.


RESULTS
For the total patient sample, the mean age was 52.91 ± 13.51 years, and the mean body mass index was 24.10 ± 3.22 kg/m(2). The mean duration of pain was 1.3 years (range 0.25-20), and the mean duration of postoperative follow-up was 4.2 years (range 0.05-10.25). The mean preoperative pain score was 6.91 ± 0.97. The mean postoperative pain scale score was 1.92 ± 1.54 (P < .01). Statistically significant differences in the preoperative and postoperative pain scores were found for each group: group 1, 5.38 ± 1.47 (range 3-8); group 2, 4.10 ± 1.41 (range 2-6), and group 3, 5.21 ± 1.88 (range 2-8; P = .004). In group 1, excellent surgical outcomes and high patient satisfaction were reported for 94.5% (17 of 18) of the procedures performed.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of our study have shown that epididymectomy is more effective in patients with a history of vasectomy than in those without.
Lee
Joo Yong
JY
Department of Urology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
Tchun Yong
TY
Park
Hae Young
HY
Choi
Hong Yong
HY
Yoo
Tag Keun
TK
Moon
Hong Sang
HS
Han
June Hyun
JH
Park
Sung Yul
SY
Lee
Seung Wook
SW
D002908:Chronic Disease; D004822:Epididymis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013577:Syndrome; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000379:methods; D014659:Vasectomy / Q000009:adverse effects