The vas after vasectomy: comparison of cauterization methods.

A histologic study of the vas ends was carried out in 21 patients undergoing vasovasostomy. All had undergone prior vasectomy by the same surgeon, with a technique identical except for the type of cautery used to seal the vas ends. A superior sealing of the vas, as shown by fewer cases of vasitis nodosa and spermatic granuloma, followed use of the thermal cautery ("red-hot wire") than the electrosurgical cautery (23% vs 60.7% suboptimal sealing rate). The thermal cautery is a superior method of sealing the vas at vasectomy.