The Relationship Between Preoperative Examination and High Phimosis Complication in Thermocautery Assisted Circumcision in İnfancy

Abstract

Objective: To this study, we presented our experience with thermocautery assisted guillotine/clamp (TAG) method circumcisions on infant age and to share high rate of penile adhesions/phimosis complications that we found at the end of study.
 Methods: A retrospective review between July 2020 and October 2022, 80 patients under the age of 1 who were circumcised by a single surgeon using the thermocautery assisted guillotine/clamp method, under the local anesthesia were included in the study (Thermo-Med TM 802B device; Thermo Medikal, Adana, Turkey). 
 Results: 80 patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 was 0-6 months old, group 2 was 6-12 months old. According to the weight percentile in group 1, 44.4% of the patients were above 75. percentile (p), in group 2, 34% of the patient were 25-50.p. In the preoperative evaluations, the presence of pubic fatty tissue was found in 24% of the patients in group 1 and 30% in group 2. Early complications occurred in 7 patients. Late complications were seen in 22 patients (27,5%). The presence of excess penile tissue was observed in 12 of them.
 Conclusion: The TAG method is cheap, fast operation time and has a very good bleeding control. However, its use in infant group affects complication rates due to infant anatomical features. In the decision of circumcision in infant age, if there is a pubic fatty tissue in the preoperative examination, the high probability of complications should be taken into account when choosing the TAG method