Circumcision

Circumcision: As a parent, what do I need to know?

Dr. Dyson is an experienced pediatrician who has performed circumcisions on hundreds of newborns. During a circumcision, foreskin is removed, exposing the rounded tip of the penis, which is called the glans. The procedure itself usually takes five minutes. Currently, the popularity of circumcision is on the decline. It is estimated that 54% of all American parents have their son circumcised. Circumcision significantly reduces the risk of urinary tract infections and, later in life, of sexually transmitted infections such as AIDS. Circumcision almost completely prevents the probability of penile cancer. In the United States the complication rate for circumcisions is very low; 0.2 to 0.5 percent of patients.

How is a circumcision procedure done?

As a rule, Dr. Dyson prefers to perform circumcisions in his office, under local anaesthesia. Dr. Dyson will use a small table with Velcro straps to keep the baby in place. The penis is properly cleaned and a sterilized Gomco clamp is inserted between the glans and the foreskin to separate them. The clamp is used to protect the rest of the penis while the prepuce is being removed. Dr. Dyson carefully removes the foreskin using a sterile scalpel and scissors.

Dr. Dyson will use your pacifier dipped in a sugar water mix and Tylenol to begin the process and minimize discomfort to your baby. He will inject Lidocaine locally around the base of the penis to produce a local block. At the end of the procedure, Dr. Dyson will apply a generous amount of Vaseline to the area, preventing the scab (which will form later) from sticking to the diaper, as well as, getting in contact with fecal matter. This should be done by the parents with every change of the diaper.

Dr. Agarwal does a circumcision of newborn with plasti bell procedure. It is a common method recommended for infants. The procedure is done under local anesthesia. Plastibell is a clear plastic ring with a handle which is broken off at the end of the procedure and the excess skin beyond the ring is trimmed off. The entire procedure takes 5-10 minutes. The ring falls off in 3-7 days leaving a smooth skin at the site.

Care after circumcision:

Often, the child may be fussy and will have a disrupted sleep pattern right after the procedure. There will be some swelling of the penis the first few days and initially some bleeding may happen. Call the office if there is ever more than a quarter size amount of blood observed in the diaper with any diaper change. To stop bleeding, use a clean cotton cloth to apply direct, gentle pressure to the area for five to ten minutes. As a rule, complete wound healing occurs within seven to ten days following circumcision, at which point the incision scab (yellow, moist) will come off.

When you should call Dr. Dyson?

If your boy does not urinate within 12 hours after the procedure.
If the redness and swelling around the glans does not disappear within three to five days or become more pronounced.
If there is a yellowish discharge/oozing from the circumcised area.
If your baby develops a temperature of 100.4F or higher.
If the bleeding does not stop after the circumcision or the size of blood spot in the diaper is larger than a quarter.

What problems often occur after circumcision?

The most common complications of circumcision are slight bleeding. Sometimes the tip of the penis becomes irritated because of contact with urine or feces inside the diaper. These symptoms lessen and go away within a few days.