Circumcision anesthesia: a study of nursing implications for dorsal penile nerve block.

PURPOSE

To compare responses to circumcision between a group of unanesthetized newborn males and a group having dorsal penile nerve block (DPNB).

METHOD

Thirty newborn males who met the selection criteria were randomly assigned to the treatment (n = 20) or control group (n = 10). Oxygen perfusion, blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate, and cardiac rhythm were measured before, during, and after circumcision. In addition, observations were recorded during the procedure on crying duration and type, vomiting, gagging, breath holding, and jitteriness. Data were analyzed by t-test, Mann-Whitney analysis, and frequencies.

FINDINGS

There were no significant differences between groups except on physiologic and subjective stress reactions during circumcision.

CONCLUSIONS

The unanesthetized subjects displayed stress reactions that have implications for nursing care.