TRADITIONAL VS. NO SCALPEL VASECTOMY

 
Traditional vasectomy technique involves making either one centrally located incision on the scrotum halfway between the top of the testicles and the base of the penis using a scalpel or two incisions on each side above the testicles. The vasal sheath, containing the vas deferens (“vas”), can be palpated (felt with the fingers) through the scrotal skin and delivered to the opening that was made with the scapel. The vasal sheath contains the vas deferens along with blood vessels and nerves covered by several layers of membrane or fascia.  The vas containing sheath is then pulled up through the incision using an instrument so that dissection through the sheath to the vas can be accomplished.
The No-Scalpel approach involves palpating the vas (identifying the vas using fingers to feel it) within the scrotum and grasping it (outside the skin) with a C-clamp (a special grasping forceps with a circular end sized to grasp the vasal sheath along with scrotal skin.). Once the vas is held in place with the C-Clamp with the skin tightly stretched over the vas, a  slightly curved and sharply pointed forceps is used to pierce through the skin and top layers of sheath and fascia. When the forceps are opened, the vas is exposed. By positioning one tip of the pointed forceps under the vas it can be delivered up out of the sheath and scrotum so that it can be cut and ligated using the surgeons chosen approach. The no-scalpel approach has been shown to be less painful both during and after the procedure. Additionally, certain complications such as infection and bleeding are significantly reduced with the no-scalpel approach.  When performed correctly the no-scalple approach is efficient and reduces trauma to the vasal anatomy.

 Back Next