[ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY SECONDARY TO URINARY TRACT OBSTRUCTION - A RARE COMPLICATION OF CIRCUMCISION]

Approximately a third of men worldwide and over 90% of Israeli men are circumcised. The procedure carries a low rate of complication, mainly including surgical and infectious complications. Urinary tract obstruction (UTO) is a rare complication of circumcision.

The aim of this study was to define the incidence of UTO following circumcision in the last 20 years and describe the characteristics of the affected babies.

Study participants were identified from a list consisting of all male babies aged 7-30 days treated at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center during the years 2000-2020. Files of patients with serum creatinine ≥ 1 mg/dl were reviewed. Clinical and laboratory data were collected from patients' records.

Ten babies with acute kidney injury due to UTO after circumcision were identified. Average age at admission was 10.1 days (8-13). Only two babies had an uncomplicated postnatal course. The main findings on physical examination were distended abdomen, abdominal wall discoloration and leg edema. Average creatinine on admission was 1.76 mg/dl (1.0-3.28). Additional findings were hyperkalemia 6.2 mEq/L (4.5-7.6) and hyponatremia 125 mEq/L (118-134). All hospitalized patients developed post-obstructive diuresis. Kidney function and laboratory abnormalities completely resolved in all of our patients. There was no evidence of kidney damage in six children with long-term follow up.

UTO with acute kidney injury is a rare severe complication of circumcision. Prompt identification and proper treatment can result in complete resolution of kidney function.