title: Advances in male reproductive surgery: robotic-assisted vasovasostomy.
abstract: It is estimated that 3-6% of all vasectomised men request vasectomy reversal for different reasons. Microsurgical vasovasostomy is the gold standard technique of vasectomy reversal. However, the microsurgical technique is time-consuming and challenging to most urological surgeons. Therefore, alternative methods of vasal anastomosis have been studied including robotic-assisted vasovasostomy. This review discusses the feasibility and practice of robotic-assisted vasovasostomy. Based on the available studies robotic-assisted vasovasostomy is feasible. The reported rate of vasal patency associated with this new technique is similar to that of microsurgical vasovasostomy. There is no clear difference between the 2 approaches in terms of operating time. Robotic-assisted vasovasostomy does not appear to afford significant advantages in the era of vasectomy reversal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Ystad Hospital, Lund University, Ystad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Saad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elzanaty
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Erasmus medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dohle
keywords: Robotic surgery; Vasectomy reversal; Vasovasostomy