Epididymectomy for post-vasectomy pain: histological review

Fifteen epididymectomies were performed on 10 patients with post-vasectomy pain and 12 specimens were available for histopathological review. The findings were compared with those in 2 groups in which epididymectomy was performed for chronic epididymo-orchitis and epididymal cysts. The results showed that 50% of the post-vasectomy group were cured by simple epididymectomy. Pathological findings revealed features of long-standing obstruction and interstitial and perineural fibrosis which may have accounted for the pain. It is important to recognise this late complication of vasectomy and, if surgery is to be performed, to include all of the distal vas and previous vasectomy site in the excision.