Argon laser-assisted vasovasostomy.
Laser-assisted vasovasostomy recently has become a popular procedure in the United States. Only the microsurgical carbon dioxide laser is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for vasovasostomies. Using the HGM argon laser, the procedure was performed on 3 laboratory dogs with a patency rate of 100 percent (6/6) and anastomotic leak 17 percent (1/6). This procedure requires little microsurgical expertise, can be performed without the use of a microscope, and does not require a perfectly dry field. The argon laser is a superior technique to previously described laser-assisted vasovasostomies and further clinical correlation is recommended.