Surgical technique for inguinal surgery and its effect on fertility in the Wistar rat model

This study has explored the relatively neglected effects of operative manipulation of the vas deferens on fertility. Following unilateral vasectomy the contralateral vasa of 52 4-week-old Wistar rats were subjected to 7 different manipulations. After 7 weeks a fertility trial was conducted. All sham operated rats (n = 18) were fertile. Of the remaining 34 rats, 22 (65%) were sterile. All of those with tight ring reconstruction (n = 6) were sterile, due initially to venous obstruction. Nine of 14 rats with acute clip trauma (65%) remained fertile but 11 of 14 (78%) with full mobilisation were sterile owing to extensive avascular fibrosis of the vas deferens. These results suggest that overzealous cord handling and operative technique in the immature animal is counterproductive and leads to vasal occlusion. This may have important repercussions in paediatric inguinal surgery, with a subsequent higher incidence of azoospermia and male subfertility.