Circumcision with the Nd:YAG laser contact technique compared with conventional surgery.

OBJECTIVE

The present study was undertaken to assess the degree of efficacy of the Nd:YAG laser contact technique as compared with conventional surgery in circumcision.

BACKGROUND DATA

Neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser in urology has many advantages over conventional surgical techniques. Clinical comparative studies between the Nd:YAG laser and conventional circumcision in boys have not yet been reported.

METHODS

This study compared the clinical effects of the Nd:YAG laser contact technique with those of a conventional technique on the grounds of certain perioperative parameters, including operative time, length of hospital stay, postoperative complications and morbidity. Seventy-five patients undergoing circumcision were reviewed retrospectively. Operative time, length of hospital stay, and postoperative morbidity were analyzed. Differences between contact Nd:YAG laser surgery and conventional surgery were compared.

RESULTS

Operative time in the Nd:YAG laser treated group was significantly increased compared with conventionally treated patients (31.6 +/- 3.6 min vs. 19.8 +/- 1.9 min, p < 0.001). The length of hospital stay and early and late postoperative morbidity were significantly decreased in circumcised patients with the Nd:YAG laser contact technique compared with the conventional technique regardless of the indication for surgery (9.71 +/- 4.5 h vs. 11.8 +/- 5.1 h, p < 0.05 and 2% vs. 9%, p < 0.05 and 0% vs. 7.2%, p < 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that the Nd:YAG laser contact technique is an effective laser-assisted procedure alternative to the conventional technique in circumcision with virtually no significant postoperative morbidity.