New regional anesthetic technique for adult circumcision.

Abstract

Adult circumcision is a minor procedure for which a safe, simple, and satisfactory local anesthetic technique is difficult to come upon. Although many different regional methods have been described, they do not always result in a pain-free procedure, and frequently more agent than is necessary has to be used. Labat and Tuohy attribute tissue slough to local infiltration (particularly around the prepuce); whereas Fruin and McLaughlin feel it is the cause of excessive postoperative edema and tardy healing. As a result of this, many clinics have had to resort to either spinal or general anesthesia, thereby greatly increasing operative and postoperative morbidity. For this procedure (which so often is done at the office), we feel that only a local anesthesia should be used. A regional method will be presented, which we believe fulfills all of the requirements for the ideal circumcision anesthetic. INNERVATION Many men are of the opinion that