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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Vessel-Sparing Microsurgical Longitudinal Intussusception Vasoepididymostomy to Treat Epididymal Obstructive Azoospermia
Published on: May 27, 2022
Two cases of delayed patency following "failed" epididymovasostomy and subsequent percutaneous epididymal sperm
1Department of Urology, St. Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Summary:
We describe two patients who underwent bilateral epididymovasostomy and subsequent percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) because of persistent azoospermia, after which sperm returned to the ejaculates of both patients, resulting in an unexpected natural pregnancy in one of the couples.
Patients:
Two men, Patient A (age 35 years) and Patient B (age 37 years), underwent vasectomy reversal 8 and 9 years following vasectomies, respectively. In both cases, bilateral epididymovasostomy was required due to epididymal obstruction. Semen analysis was performed at 3 month intervals following the procedure. Both patients underwent PESA, and one couple completed intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Findings:
In Patient A, PESA and ICSI resulted in a dizygotic twin pregnancy, which was followed by an unexpected natural pregnancy 3 years after the epididymovasostomy. Semen analysis indicated late patency. This experience prompted us to advise Patient B to continue undergoing semen analyses every 3 months, even though PESA and ICSI treatment had been initiated. One year after the reconstructive procedure, and after PESA was performed, semen analysis indicated patency. This couple has stopped ICSI treatments and is now attempting a natural pregnancy.
Conclusions:
Epididymovasostomy may result in delayed patency and natural pregnancy, even after PESA has been performed. This finding should be taken into consideration by clinicians and by couples trying to conceive a child following "failed" epididymovasostomy and subsequent PESA.
