Circumcision

At Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, we believe parents and guardians can contribute to the success of this surgery and we invite you to participate. Please read the following information to learn about the surgery and how you can help.

Fast Facts About Circumcision

• Circumcision (SIR-come-siz-yun) is a surgery to remove the skin that covers the end of the penis.
• Your child’s surgery will be done under general anesthesia (an-es-THEEZ-ya), which means that he will be sound asleep during the surgery, will feel no pain and will have no memory of it.
• Your child will also receive caudal (COD-ool) anesthesia, which will give pain relief in the area below the waist during the surgery and for 4 hours afterward. 
• A pediatric urology doctor—a specialist in conditions of the urinary tract and reproductive organs of children—will do your child’s circumcision. 
• This surgery is done through Children’s Hospital’s Same Day Surgery Center.

What Is A Circumcision?

Circumcision is a surgery to remove a boy’s foreskin, the fold of skin at the end of the penis. This surgery is done on boys who did not receive a circumcision when they were newborns.  For most children, circumcision is usually not medically necessary, but there are a variety of religious, social and cultural reasons why parents may choose to circumcise their sons.

• Some faiths practice circumcision.
• Some parents fear their sons will be teased if not circumcised.
• Some parents choose to have their sons circumcised because other men in the family are circumcised.
• Some believe that circumcision makes the penis easier to keep clean.
• There are several medical conditions in which circumcision may help to lower a boy’s risk of urinary tract infections.
• The decision to circumcise or not circumcise is completely up to a child’s parents or guardians.

What Is Anesthesia?

General anesthesia makes your child’s whole body go to sleep and is needed for circumcision so that his reflexes will be completely relaxed.  General anesthesia makes the surgery easier and safer to do because your child will not feel any pain or have any memory of it.

Caudal anesthesia is given with general anesthesia to block pain in the low back, belly and lower trunk area. It allows the anesthesia doctor to give a smaller amount of general anesthesia during the surgery, and also provides up to 4 hours of pain relief in that area after the surgery.

Home Preparation

When general anesthesia is needed, there are important rules for eating and drinking that must be followed in the hours before the surgery. One business day before your child’s surgery, you will receive a phone call from a surgical nurse between the hours of 1 and 9 p.m. (Nurses do not make these calls on weekends or holidays.) Please have paper and a pen ready to write down these important instructions.

• The nurse will give you specific eating and drinking instructions for your child based on your child’s age. Following are the usual instructions given for eating and drinking. No matter what age your child is, you should follow the specific instructions given to you on the phone by the nurse. 

For children older than 12 months:

• After midnight the night before the surgery, do not give any solid food or non-clear liquids. That includes milk, formula, juices with pulp, coffee and chewing gum or candy.

For infants under 12 months:

• Up to 6 hours before the scheduled arrival time, formula-fed babies may be given formula. 
• Up to 4 hours before the scheduled arrival time, breastfed babies may nurse.

For all children:

• Up to 2 hours before the scheduled arrival time, give only clear liquids. Clear liquids include water, Pedialyte®, Kool-Aid® and juices you can see through, such as apple or white grape juice. Milk is not a clear liquid.
• In the 2 hours before scheduled arrival time, give nothing to eat or drink.
• You may bring along a “comfort” item—such as a favorite stuffed animal or “blankie”—for your child to hold before and after the surgery.

A Parent’s/Guardian’s Role

The most important role of a parent or guardian is to help your child stay calm and relaxed before the surgery. The best way to help your child stay calm is for you to stay calm.

Going To Sleep

Once your child has been registered for the surgery at the Same Day Surgery Center, a nurse, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant and a member of the anesthesia staff will meet with you to take your child’s vital signs, weight and medical history. As the parent or legal guardian, you will be asked to sign a consent form before the anesthesia is given.

• The anesthesiology doctor will review your child’s medical information and decide which kind of sleep medication he should get.  
• If your child is very scared or upset, the doctor may give him a special medication to help him relax. This medication is flavored and takes effect in 10 to 15 minutes. 
• If you wish, you may go with your child to the room where the surgery will be done and stay as the sleep medication is given. 
• Younger children will get their sleep medication    through a “space mask” that will carry air mixed with    medication. Your child may choose a favorite scent    
  to flavor the air flowing through the mask. There are no shots or needles used while your child is still awake. 
• Older children may choose between getting their medication through the mask or directly into a vein through an intravenous (IV) line. 
• When your child has fallen asleep, you will be taken to the waiting room. If it has not already been done, an IV will be started so that medication can be given to keep your child sleeping throughout the surgery. 
• After the IV has been placed, your child will be turned onto his side. The lower back near the spine will be cleaned for the caudal anesthesia injection.

The Surgery

After your child is asleep, the doctor will begin the circumcision. 

• The penis will be cleaned and the foreskin of the penis will be removed.
• Fine sutures (SOO-chers) or stitches that dissolve on their own will be placed at the time of the surgery.
• The surgery itself will take only about 15 to 30 minutes.
• A simple dressing will be placed on the penis.

While Asleep

While your child is asleep, his heart rate, blood pressure, temperature and blood oxygen level will be checked continuously.

• Your child may have a breathing tube placed while he is asleep. If a breathing tube is used, your child may have a sore throat after the surgery.
• To keep your child asleep during the surgery, he may be given anesthetic medication by mask, through the IV or both. When the surgery is over, the medications will be stopped and your child will begin to wake up

Waking Up

When your child is moved to the recovery room, you will be called so that you can be there as he wakes up. 

• The doctor who did your child’s surgery will meet with you to talk about the surgery and answer any questions you might have.
• The caudal anesthesia will allow your child to wake up comfortably, without any pain from the surgery, and keep him comfortable for several hours afterward. 
• Your child will need to stay in the recovery room to be watched until he is alert and his vital signs are stable. The length of time your child will spend in the recovery room will vary because some children take longer than others to wake up after general anesthesia.
• Children coming out of anesthesia may react in different ways. Your child may cry, be fussy or confused, feel sick to his or her stomach, or vomit. These reactions are normal and will go away as the anesthesia wears off. 
• Children who have received caudal anesthesia may have some weakness, numbness or tingling in their legs. These feelings are normal and should go away within a few hours. 
• The caudal anesthesia may make it hard for your child to walk in the hours just after the surgery.  You should watch your child closely for a few hours to prevent tripping or falling.

Going Home

After your child is discharged and goes home, he may still be groggy and should take it easy for the day. 

• You will be told how to care for your child’s dressing. An ointment may be prescribed for you to use with the dressing.
• The penis may look red and sore, and there may be a little bleeding for a day or so.
• Your child will be restricted from bathing for several days after surgery.
• Your child’s surgeon will determine when your child may resume normal activities. 
• Your child may begin to eat and drink a little at a time and resume normal eating and drinking as long as he is feeling well. 
• If you notice a fever higher than 101.4˚F, a lot of bleeding or foul smelling drainage from the area around the circumcision, call the doctor who did the surgery right away.

Special Needs

If your child has any special needs or health issues you feel the doctor needs to know about, please call the Department of Urology at Children’s Hospital before the surgery and ask to speak with a nurse. It is important to notify us in advance about any special needs your child might have.