Monday, October 16, 2006
Findings Suggest How to Improve Vasectomy Success Rates
Research Triangle Park (NC), October 15: Research published by Family Health International, Laval University in Quebec City, Canada, and EngenderHealth in New York, in open-access journal BMC Urology shows that early recanalization- the most frequent cause of vasectomy failure- is more common than previously recognized. It also confirms that certain vasectomy techniques are associated with lower risk of recanalization and that wider use of these techniques could reduce vasectomy failure rates.
“Vasectomy is a highly effective contraceptive method,” says Dr. David Sokal, an investigator for the study and a medical scientist at FHI, “but these findings tell us that there is room for improvement. The study gives us a better understanding of how frequently recanalization occurs, and clearly identifies a key focus for future vasectomy research: how to reduce the rate of early recanalization.”.
The researchers described patterns of early recanalization (a spontaneous reconnection of the two ends of the severed vas deferens) by charting data from semen analyses beginning two weeks post-vasectomy from two of the most rigorous studies of vasectomy techniques to date. One of these studies tested the effectiveness of a technique known as fascial interposition among 826 men in 7 countries, while the other examined the effectiveness of cautery among 389 men in 4 countries.
Researchers estimated that early recanalization occurred in 13% of study participants overall- a surprisingly high percent for a method commonly considered to be at least 99% effective- and caused more than four-fifths of vasectomy failures overall. The findings also suggest, however, that in many cases of recanalization the vas eventually closes off, resulting in a successful vasectomy.
Large differences in recanalization risk were observed for the different vasectomy techniques, as follows:
• One-fourth for men with ligation and excision alone
• One-eighth for men with ligation and excision plus fascial interposition
• Zero for men with thermal cautery and fascial interposition
These findings reinforce recent recommendations from several medical groups to avoid ligation and excision as the sole method for occluding the vas. They also support the use of cautery with fascial interposition as probably the most effective way of occluding the vas.
FHI’s Dr. Sokal cautions that further research is needed to clarify the full implications of these results for clinical practice, because what seem like small differences in surgical technique may lead to significant differences in effectiveness.
(ResearchSEA)
“Vasectomy is a highly effective contraceptive method,” says Dr. David Sokal, an investigator for the study and a medical scientist at FHI, “but these findings tell us that there is room for improvement. The study gives us a better understanding of how frequently recanalization occurs, and clearly identifies a key focus for future vasectomy research: how to reduce the rate of early recanalization.”.
The researchers described patterns of early recanalization (a spontaneous reconnection of the two ends of the severed vas deferens) by charting data from semen analyses beginning two weeks post-vasectomy from two of the most rigorous studies of vasectomy techniques to date. One of these studies tested the effectiveness of a technique known as fascial interposition among 826 men in 7 countries, while the other examined the effectiveness of cautery among 389 men in 4 countries.
Researchers estimated that early recanalization occurred in 13% of study participants overall- a surprisingly high percent for a method commonly considered to be at least 99% effective- and caused more than four-fifths of vasectomy failures overall. The findings also suggest, however, that in many cases of recanalization the vas eventually closes off, resulting in a successful vasectomy.
Large differences in recanalization risk were observed for the different vasectomy techniques, as follows:
• One-fourth for men with ligation and excision alone
• One-eighth for men with ligation and excision plus fascial interposition
• Zero for men with thermal cautery and fascial interposition
These findings reinforce recent recommendations from several medical groups to avoid ligation and excision as the sole method for occluding the vas. They also support the use of cautery with fascial interposition as probably the most effective way of occluding the vas.
FHI’s Dr. Sokal cautions that further research is needed to clarify the full implications of these results for clinical practice, because what seem like small differences in surgical technique may lead to significant differences in effectiveness.
(ResearchSEA)
# posted by mediabhartiwebsolutions @ 6:22 AM 
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]