Vasectomy – safe also in unexperienced hands

Sammanfattning

Introduction: Vasectomy is considered a safe and effective contraceptive method with fewcomplications. Complications are most often hematomas, pain or infection. Previous studiessuggest that the surgeon’s experience level is associated with potential complications. Aim: To evaluate complications after vasectomy and to investigate if specific patientcharacteristics and/or surgical experience can predict complications related to vasectomysurgeries. Methods: Five hundred consecutive journals of vasectomy patients at the Department of Urologyin Örebro University Hospital during 2019 and 2020 were investigated. Patient characteristics andinformation about the surgery were collected. Comparison was made between patient groups toinvestigate if complications were more common in patients with diabetes, cardiovascular diseaseor previous surgery in the scrotal/groin area, as well as in patients operated on by one versus twosurgeons, and residents versus specialized surgeons. Results: No statistically significant association could be found between patient characteristics(diabetes, cardiovascular disease, previous surgery) and complications. Furthermore, the numberof operating surgeons and the surgeons’ experience levels did not have any statistically significantassociation to complication rates. Conclusion: No patient factors could be used to predict vasectomy outcome. Complication ratesare the same in patients operated by surgical residents and specialized surgeons.