Vas deferens to rete testis anastomosis for obstructive azoospermia.

PURPOSE: This video aims to present an in-depth, step-by-step tutorial on microsurgical reconstruction for obstructive azoospermia, featuring a distinctive case involving anastomosis from vas deferens to rete testis. The primary aim of this endeavor is to offer thorough and practical insights for healthcare professionals and researchers within the realm of reproductive medicine. The video endeavors to disseminate expertise, methodologies, and perspectives that can be advantageous to individuals grappling with obstructive azoospermia, providing a significant contribution to the progress of reproductive medicine and the augmentation of existing treatment alternatives. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgical footage was recorded using the ORBEYE 4K 3D Orbital Camera System by Olympus America, with patient consent acquired for research purposes. Additionally, a retrospective examination of patient records was undertaken to compile relevant medical histories. RESULTS: This video furnishes an exhaustive guide to microsurgical reconstruction for obstructive azoospermia, encompassing a distinctive instance of anastomosis from vas deferens to rete testis. State-of-the-art technology, such as the ORBEYE 4K 3D Orbital Camera, heightens procedural transparency, accentuating the significance of advanced instrumentation. The ethical underpinning is emphasized by obtaining patient consent for footage utilization, and a retrospective chart review augments the repository of valuable patient data. This comprehensive approach serves as an invaluable reservoir of knowledge for medical professionals and underscores excellence in clinical and ethical healthcare research. CONCLUSIONS: Anastomosis from vas deferens to rete testis emerges as a viable surgical reconstruction alternative for obstructive azoospermia, particularly when confronted with non-dilated tubules within the epididymis.

Canadian trends in testosterone therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Rates of testosterone therapy (TT) prescribing dropped dramatically following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada warning regarding potential cardiovascular morbidity in 2014. Since then, prescription rates appear to be increasing in the U.S., however, data on TT use in Canada is lacking. Current database studies suffer from incomplete prescription capture, lack of information on continued use, and confounding from concurrent population growth. Nova Scotia (NS) is a Canadian province with minimal population growth over the past decade. NS tracks every testosterone prescription and refill through their prescription monitoring program (NSPMP). All testosterone prescriptions must be written on triplicate forms, allowing for comprehensive tracking. The purpose of this study is to describe the long-term prescription trends of testosterone in a mid-sized Canadian province using a database that captures 100% of all TT prescriptions written and filled. METHODS: Data were extracted from the NSPMP database on all prescriptions and prescription refills of androgens for men over 18 years of age from 2007-2019. Population statistics were gained using publicly available data from Statistics Canada. Analysis of patterns on individual years and over time were examined for number of patients, prescriptions, and prescribers, as well as formulation. RESULTS: The male population of Nova Scotia remained relatively stable throughout the study period (2007: 455 064; 2019: 475 478; population increase of 4.3%). A total of 7883 men (1.7% of the male population) received a prescription for TT during the study period; 1673 men received only one prescription in the entire study period and 5446 men remained on TT for longer than six months. Of the 1730 men under 45 who were prescribed TT, 75% (n=1298) of them stayed on it for more than six months; 1856 men (24%) switched the type of testosterone they were on during the study period. The number of men receiving TT yearly increased by 98%, from 1235 in 2007 to 2448 in 2019. The number of men receiving TT plateaued in 2014, except for men under age 35, in whom it has steadily increased every year since 2007. Interestingly, primary care providers (PCPs) wrote 92% of all prescriptions, on average (interquartile range 90-93). CONCLUSIONS: In a mid-sized Canadian province with stable population growth, prescriptions of testosterone increased until 2014, and then either stabilized or decreased. TT prescriptions in young men have continued to increase yearly. Injectable and gel-based formulations have increased in popularity over the past decade. Future efforts to educate prescribers, especially surrounding the effects on fertility in young men, should be largely focused on PCPs.