Microdissection testicular sperm extraction: Prediction, outcome, and complications

Testicular spermatozoa can be retrieved successfully by the testicular sperm extraction (TESE) procedure and used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection in cases of non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). The successful application of TESE depends on the identification of seminiferous tubules containing spermatozoa; testicular tubules of patients with NOA are usually heterogeneous, and TESE may not always be successful in these patients. Microdissection TESE with an operative microscope is advantageous because larger, more opaque, and whitish tubules, presumably containing germ cells with active spermatogenesis, can be identified directly. This procedure is currently the best method for the certain identification of sperm, resulting in a high spermatozoa retrieval rate and minimal postoperative complications. The present review considers the surgical procedure, outcome, prediction for spermatozoa retrieval, and postoperative complications of microdissection TESE.