The ultrasonic harmonic scalpel for circumcision: experimental evaluation using dogs

Male circumcision is one of the most commonly performed operations worldwide, and many novel techniques have been developed for better postoperative outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of applying the ultracision harmonic scalpel (UHS) for circumcision by using dogs. Sixteen adult male dogs were divided into two groups: the UHS group and the control group. The dogs were circumcised with either the UHS or a conventional scalpel. The UHS circumcision procedure and the effects were imaged 1 week after surgery. The two groups were compared with respect to the operative time and volume of blood loss. Postoperative complications, including oedema, infection, bleeding of the incision and wound dehiscence, were recorded for both groups. The mean operative time for the UHS group was only 5.1 min compared with the 35.5 min of the conventional group. The mean blood loss was less than 2 ml for the UHS group and 15 ml for the conventional group. There was only one case of mild oedema in the UHS group, but the postoperative complications in the conventional group included two cases of mild oedema, one infection of the incision and one case of bleeding of the incision. In conclusion, circumcision using UHS is a novel technique to treat patients with phimosis and excessive foreskin, and this method has a short operative time, less blood loss and fewer complications than the conventional scalpel method. This small animal study provides a basis for embarking on a larger-scale clinical trial of the UHS.