Comparative Study of Early Neonatal Versus Late Circumcision in Terms of Post Operative Complications

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare early neonatal versus late circumcision by plastibell in terms of postoperative complications.

Methodology: It was a comparative study conducted at Department of Pediatric Surgery at Shifa International Hospital Islamabad from January 2018 to November 2019. The present study is a prospective analytical review of 482 uncircumcised patients who presented to the Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad. The variables that were observed in this study were age, mode of presentation, and complications. Patients divided into 2 groups. In Group A circumcision was done within the first 3 days of life and in Group B circumcision was done from in conventional manner after one week of life till 3 months of age.

Results: Total 482 patients were presented during this study period, out of which 70 belong to Group A and 412 belong to Group B. In Group A, bell retraction was seen in 4 patients (5.71%), infection of glans in the form of flakes of pus was seen in 1 patient (1.42%), delayed fall was seen in 2 patients (2.85%) and meatal ulcer was seen in 1 patient (1.42%). In Group B, bell retraction was seen in 8 patients (1.94%), infection in 4 patients (0.97%) and delayed fall in 4 patients (0.97%). Complications like bleeding, over/under circumcision, smegmal cyst, meatal stenosis and urethrocutaneous fistula were not seen in any group.

Conclusion: We conclude that neonatal circumcision done within first 3 days of life or even soon after birth is safe and has no significant difference of complications as compared to patients in whom circumcision is done at a later stage.