Quantifying Circumcision Anesthesia Research: A Bibliometric Analysis Using VOSviewer.

Abstract

Circumcision anesthesia, aimed at mitigating pain and distress during the procedure, has evolved, reflecting advancements in medical science and societal attitudes toward pain management. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of circumcision anesthesia research, from historical origins to contemporary trends. The Web of Science collection database was used to search for all articles on circumcision anesthesia between 1980 and 2024. All fields were searched using "circumcision anesthesia" or "circumcision anaesthesia" as keywords. Countries, authors, journals, institutions, citation frequency, and journal metrics were extracted. The results were analyzed bibliometrically using the VOSviewer program. A total of 683 relevant publications between 1980 and 2024 were analyzed. The results showed that the USA had the highest number of publications, followed by Turkey. Original articles were the most common publication type, and the main research topics included pain management strategies, anesthesia techniques, and clinical outcomes. The article by Taddio et al. was the most cited article, with 738 citations, while "circumcision" and "pain" were the most common keywords used. Despite cultural and regional differences, this study highlights the growing acceptance of circumcision anesthesia as a vital aspect of medical practice and offers insights to guide future research efforts and clinical interventions. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the role of circumcision anesthesia in enhancing patient comfort and well-being during this standard surgical procedure.