Circumcision: how do urologists do it?

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To determine the range of surgical techniques, analgesic practice, post-operative care and follow-up procedures used in the circumcision of children by urologists in the United Kingdom, and to suggest changes which would improve patient care and medical training in the relatively simple procedure of circumcision. In 1994, all consultant urologists in the United Kingdom were sent detailed questionnaires asking about their practices in the circumcision of children. Of 308 urologists, 61% replied; of these, 55% use the sleeve-resection technique and 39% the free-hand method, and 57% use diathermy, half of which is bipolar. There is wide variation in the type of post-operative analgesia; 95% use an initial dressing but few recommend any subsequent dressing, 70% perform all circumcisions as day cases and 48% review patients in the clinic. There is significant concern that circumcision is not taught adequately to junior surgeons. The sleeve technique of resection should be more widely used. Analgesic practice could be improved with greater use of regional anaesthetics. Most urologists promote no specific care after discharge. There is probably a place for increasing the use of alternative procedures to circumcision.