EPIDIDYMO–VASOSTOMY: A MICRODISSECTION STUDY OF TWO CASES

Abstract

SUMMARY A microdissection study of two post epididymo–vasostomy epididymides is reported. One of them, Case 8, had originally been operated upon in order to cure a post epididymo–orchitis azoospermia. The other, Case. 10, had a congenitally underdeveloped organ which had been operated upon for an azoospermia of unknown origin. In both cases the operation had been successful in that it had given rise to regenerative activity, and anastomotic connecting ducts had been formed between some of the vasa efferentia and the lumen of the implanted vas deferens. The regenerative process appeared to have been carried out entirely by vas efferens tissue as all the connecting ducts were lined by an epithelium of basic vas efferens type up to the point where they fused with the vas deferens. In Case 10 the regenerative process had been particularly active as the tissue in the region of the anastomosis contained large numbers of small, blind–ending tubules in addition to the main anastomotic ducts. This high degree of activity was most unexpected as the epididymis was of the type which normally gives an unsuccessful result after epididymo–vasostomy.