Vasectomy complications at a family practice center
Beavers, C.H.
West Virginia Medical Journal 85(9): 379-380
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0043-3284 PMID: 2781781 Document Number: 373489
Vasectomy can be performed in an outpatient setting and its safe, effective, economical, and a convenient form of permanent sterilization for men. There have been 73 vasectomies performed over a 9 year period in a clinic in West Virginia. The complications were epididymitis 5.5%, sperm granuloma 2.7%, wound infection 1.4%, and hematoma 12%. There were no failures in this study group and all the minor complications responded to conservative care. These results are comparable to others reported in medical journals. Family physicians can learn to do this procedure during their residency training. There have been no deaths in the US attributed to vasectomies. Several large studies recently showed that no substantial risk is involved or long term complications from the procedure. Hematoma was the most common complication in this study group and they were small and did not require surgical evacuation. A panel of experts has recommended using local anesthesia alone for vasectomies since other methods are more expensive, less safe, and require the patient to not drive after the procedure. Most doctors prefer local anesthesia as reported in a recent survey. The conclusion of this study is that vasectomies can be preformed safely and taught by trained family practitioners in an outpatient setting.