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Complications of circumcision
1Department of Surgery, Hope Hospital, Salford, UK.
Insights
Male circumcision is a common procedure, but complications can arise. This review examines the risks and causes of adverse events following circumcision, questioning if it
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Male circumcision is a prevalent surgical procedure, with over 30,000 performed annually in the UK, primarily on children.
- The British Medical Association advises circumcision solely for medical indications.
- A debate persists regarding the necessity and frequency of circumcision procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the spectrum of complications associated with male circumcision.
- To discuss potential etiological mechanisms underlying these complications.
- To evaluate whether patients are subjected to unnecessary surgical risks.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of circumcision complications and their causes.
- Analysis of reported morbidity and mortality associated with the procedure.
Main Results:
- Circumcision is associated with a defined rate of morbidity.
- Rare but serious adverse outcomes, including death, have been reported.
- The assumption of low risk in doubtful cases may overlook significant complications.
Conclusions:
- The potential for complications necessitates careful consideration before performing non-medically indicated circumcisions.
- Understanding the etiological factors is crucial for risk mitigation.
- Further evaluation is needed to determine if the current rate of circumcision exposes patients to undue risks.
Abstract:
Circumcision remains a common operation, with over 30,000 procedures performed annually in the UK, mostly on children. The British Medical Association has recommended that circumcision should be performed only for medical reasons. Despite this, controversy exists over whether too many circumcisions are being performed. Are patients being exposed to an unnecessary operation? It may be argued that in doubtful cases it is easier to proceed to circumcision on the assumption that the attendant risks are low, but the operation is associated with a definite morbidity and rare deaths have been reported. This review considers the spectrum of complications that may result from circumcision and discusses the possible aetiological mechanisms.