The Reversal Operation

Mr Swinn carrying out a reversal of vasectomy using a Zeiss high power operating microscope to achieve a microsurgical anastomosis

A vasectomy involves cutting the tubes which carry sperms away from the testicle (each is called a vas). Around 4% of men undergoing a vasectomy subsequently require it to be reversed. In essence, the reversal operation involves finding the site of the previous vasectomy on both sides, removing any scar tissue and delicately joining the two ends together.

At the reversal operation any scar tissue from the previous vasectomy is excised and both cut ends of the vas tubes are probed to ensure patency and to dilate them gently. The cut ends are brought together and held in a specially designed clamp to enable them to be joined together with a very fine suture material hardly visible with the naked eye (8/0 or 10/0 prolene). A second layer of slightly thicker sutures is then put in to strengthen the join. A high powered operating microscope is used throughout to enhance vision.

The operation takes about 2-2.5 hours and all are carried out under general anaesthetic. Operations are carried out in the morning and patients generally stay overnight and are discharged the following day.