Complications of neonatal circumcision: avoiding common pitfalls in a common procedure

Comparison of dorsal penile nerve block alone and in combination with lidocaine–prilocaine cream in neonates undergoing circumcision: a randomized controlled study

Background

Suboptimal neonatal circumcision analgesia causes a significant stress response. There is continued search for more effective analgesia for neonatal circumcision. We aimed to determine whether lidocaine–prilocaine cream (LPC) prior to dorsal penile nerve block (DPNB) offers better analgesia than DPNB alone.

Methods

A prospective randomized study of 72 neonates undergoing plastibell circumcision was randomized into two groups of 36 each. Group I received DPNB alone with 4 mg/kg plain lidocaine. Group II had 1 g LPC applied to the phallus 1 hour before DPNB. Serum cortisol levels were measured 30 min preoperatively and 30 min postoperatively. Heart rate (HR) and peripheral arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) were noted at 30 min preoperatively, after DPNB injection, after excising the prepuce, and at 30 min thereafter. The primary outcome measure was change in serum cortisol levels, while secondary outcomes were changes in HR and SpO2.

Results

Both groups had increased mean serum cortisol levels, decreased mean SpO2and increased mean HR from baseline. The rise in mean serum cortisol level was significantly lower in group II (8.09±4.53 µg/dL) than that in group I (11.42±7.83 µg/dL) (p=0.034). Changes in SpO2and HR were significantly less in group II than that in group I patients (p<0.05), except for HR changes at 30 min after excision of the prepuce (p=0.086).

Conclusion

These data suggest that neonates who received LPC prior to DPNB experienced significantly less pain from plastibell circumcision than those who had DPNB alone.

Trial registration number

PACTR201906554747665.

A comparison of anesthetic efficacy between dorsal penile nerve block (DPNB) with lidocaine and eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA) cream during neonatal circumcision

Objective

Circumcision is often performed in neonates and is associated with significant pain. This study was conducted to compare the anesthetic efficacy of two methods of local anaesthesia for neonatal circumcision: topical eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA) cream and dorsal penile nerve block (DPNB) with lidocaine.

Methods

Male neonates who presented for circumcision and met the eligibility criteria were recruited for the study and were randomly assigned to one of the two methods of anesthesia before the procedure. Anesthetic efficacy was compared by pain assessment during four standardized steps of the procedure (clamping, crushing, tying, and cutting of the foreskin, respectively) using the modified Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS), changes in transcutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate (HR), and preoperative and postoperative salivary cortisol levels. Patients also were evaluated after 24 hours to assess for complications.

Results

Totally, 138 babies were recruited. Significantly higher NIPS scores were observed among babies who had EMLA cream during tying (p=0.019) and cutting (p=0.043). The rise in mean HR from baseline was statistically significant throughout the procedure in the EMLA group. In the DPNB group, there was no significant rise in mean HR during crushing (p=0.919) and cutting (p=0.197). There was a significant decrease in mean SpO2 from baseline in both groups. Salivary cortisol showed significant increase in mean levels in both groups. No significant untoward effects were observed.

Conclusion

DPNB with lidocaine has a better pain control compared with EMLA cream during neonatal circumcision. Both methods are safe in neonates.

Comparing pain control using oral acetaminophen versus dorsal penile block in neonatal circumcision

Background

Circumcision is one of the commonest surgical procedures performed yet the most controversial worldwide. Although various reasons have been suggested in support of circumcision, the pain and stress that accompany it on both neonates and mothers are factors against the procedure. This study compared pain control using oral acetaminophen syrup versus 1% lidocaine injection given as dorsal penile block during neonatal circumcision.

Results

There were 191 neonates in group A and 195 in group B. The mean age at circumcision was 23.71 (SD ± 20.39) days, and mean weight was 3.33 (SD ± 0.74) kg. The mean pain scores for group A immediately and 1 h after circumcision were 4.26 (SD ± 2.48) and 0.37 (SD ± 1.35), respectively. In group B, the mean pain scores immediately and 1 h after circumcision were 3.31 (SD ± 2.59) and 0.35 (SD ± 1.19), respectively.

Conclusion

Penile block gives better pain control in comparison with oral acetaminophen syrup, but both agents are effective and can be combined to provide a long-lasting perioperative anaesthesia and analgesia for circumcision in the hospital setting.

Techniques of male circumcision

Male circumcision is a controversial subject in surgical practice. There are, however, clear surgical indications of this procedure. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends newborn male circumcision for its preventive and public health benefits that has been shown to outweigh the risks of newborn male circumcision. Many surgical techniques have been reported. The present review discusses some of these techniques with their merits and drawbacks. This is an attempt to inform the reader on surgical aspects of male circumcision aiding in making appropriate choice of a technique to offer patients. Pubmed search was done with the keywords: Circumcision, technique, complications, and history. Relevant articles on techniques of circumcision were selected for the review. Various methods of circumcision including several devices are in use for male circumcision. These methods can be grouped into three: Shield and clamp, dorsal slit, and excision. The device methods appear favored in the pediatric circumcision while the risk of complications increases with increasing age of the patient at surgery.

Surgically correctable morbidity from male circumcision: indications for specialist surgical care in lagos

AIM/OBJECTIVE

To determine the pattern of morbidity and outcome among patients referred to the Pediatric Surgery Unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) following circumcision.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective descriptive study of all patients with complications of circumcision who were managed in LUTH between 2008 and 2010.

RESULTS

There were 36 patients. The age range was between 2 days and 9 years (median-3 months). Fifteen cases (42.9%) were due to urethro-cutaneous fistula while there were six cases (16.7%) of postcircumcision bleeding. There were four cases (11.1%) each of partial penile amputation and buried penis. There were also cases of meatal stenosis, penile implantation cyst and glanulo-preputial skin bridge. With respect to the treatment offered, eleven (30.6%) patients had urethroplasty for the urethro-cutaneous fistulae while seven (19.4%) patients had penile refashioning for the buried penis and penile amputation. Appropriate surgical treatments were performed for the other complications.

CONCLUSION

Urethrocutaneous fistula and penile amputation are the commonest complications of circumcision for which referral is made to LUTH. Treatment outcome was satisfactory. Health education and legislation to ensure procedure is performed by qualified medical and paramedical staff may reduce the morbidity.