Validation of robot-assisted vasectomy reversal

Abstract

Vasectomy reversal (VR) has traditionally been performed with the operative microscope. Recently, robot assistance has been applied to VR. Retrospective chart review from a single VR center included men who underwent either robot-assisted VR (RAVR) or microsurgical VR (MVR) by a single fellowship trained microsurgeon between 2011 and 2013 and had a 6 weeks postoperative semen analysis. Fifty-two men who were interested in VR were counseled and given the option of RAVR versus MVR. Twenty-seven men elected to have MVR while 25 men elected RAVR. These included vasovasostomies and vasoepididymostomies in both groups, as well as redo VRs in men who had failed previous VR attempts by other surgeons. There was no statistically significant difference between the microsurgical group and the robot-assisted group, respectively, in overall patency rates (89% vs 92%), 6 weeks post-VR mean sperm concentrations (28 million ml-1 vs 26 million ml-1 ) or total motile counts (29 million vs 30 million), or mean operative times (141 min vs 150 min). There was a statistically significant difference in anastomosis time (64 min vs 74 min), however, clinically this only represented a 10 min longer anastomosis time in the early robotic experience, which was found to be decreasing as the case series continued. Transitioning from MVR to RAVR is feasible with comparable outcomes.