[Circumcision--criticism of the routine]

Circumcision and its alternatives in Germany: an analysis of nationwide hospital routine data

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Circumcisions are among the most frequent operations in children. Health service data on circumcision in the United States has documented an increase in neonatal circumcisions since 2012. We investigated whether a similar effect could be found in Germany, which does not endorse neonatal circumcision.

METHODS

We analysed German routine administrative data for operations conducted on the preputium in order to analyse the frequency, age distribution, and time-trends in hospital-based procedures on a nationwide basis.

RESULTS

There were 9418 [95% confidence interval (CI) 8860-10,029] procedures per year, of which 4977 (95% CI 4676-5337) were circumcisions. Age distributions were highly different between both circumcisions (van der Waerden's χ² = 58.744, df = 4, P < 0.0001) and preputium-preserving operations (van der Waerden's χ² = 58.481, df = 4, P < 0.0001). Circumcisions were more frequent in the first 5 years of life and above 15 years of age, whereas preputium-preserving procedures were preferred in the age groups between 5 and 14 years of age. The number of circumcisions and preputium-preserving operations decreased in absolute and relative numbers.

CONCLUSIONS

The increasing trend towards neonatal circumcision observed in the United States is absent in Germany. The majority of patients were operated after the first year of life and absolute and relative numbers of hospital-based procedures were decreasing. Other factors such as increasing use of steroids for the preferred non-operative treatment of phimosis may play a role. As operations in outpatients and office-based procedures were not covered, additional research is necessary to obtain a detailed picture of circumcision and its surgical alternatives in Germany.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Does circumcision increase neonatal jaundice?

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of circumcision done during the early newborn period on the baby's feeding frequency and therefore a possible effect on serum bilirubin values.

METHODS

Sixty consecutive male patients, of whom 30 were circumcised, were comparatively followed. Babies born between 35 and 40 gestational weeks, weighing above 3000 g and who had no antenatal and/or perinatal problems were enrolled. Changes in weight, frequency of feeds, urination, stooling and the serum bilirubin levels were compared.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

In experienced hands, newborn circumcision on the second day of life is safe, does not affect babies' feeding frequency or bowel movements on day 3, and does not increase serum bilirubin on day 4, thus does not increase the risk of neonatal jaundice.

Early Deaths and Treatment-Related Mortality in Children Undergoing Therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Analysis of the Multicenter Clinical Trials AML-BFM 93 and AML-BFM 98

Purpose

The rates of early death (ED) and treatment-related mortality (TRM) are unacceptably high in children undergoing intensive chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Better strategies of supportive care might help to improve overall survival in these children.

Patients and Methods

In a retrospective study, we analyzed incidence, clinical features, and risk factors for lethal complications of 901 children enrolled onto the multicenter trials Acute Myeloid Leukemia-Berlin-Frankfurt-Muenster (AML-BFM) 93 and AML-BFM 98.

Results

One hundred four patients (11.5%) enrolled onto the clinical trials AML-BFM 93 and AML-BFM 98 died shortly after diagnosis or as a result of treatment-related complications. Thirty-two patients (3.5%) died before (six patients) or during (26 patients) the first 14 days of treatment, mainly as a result of bleeding or leukostasis. Low performance status, hyperleukocytosis, and French-American-British type M5 were the main risk factors for a lethal event before day 15. After day 15, the predominant causes of death were complications caused by infections, particularly bacterial and fungal infections. The incidence of lethal infections was highest during induction therapy and decreased thereafter. When comparing both clinical trials, significantly fewer patients died within the first 6 weeks in AML-BFM 98 than in AML-BFM 93 (14 [3.5%] of 430 patients v 35 [7.4%] of 471 patients; P = .01).

Conclusion

To reduce the high incidence of ED and TRM in children with AML, early diagnosis and adequate treatment of complications are needed. Children with AML should be treated in specialized pediatric cancer centers only. Prophylactic and therapeutic regimens for better treatment management of bleeding disorders and infectious complications have to be assessed in future trials to ultimately improve overall survival in children with AML.

[Errors and risks in ambulatory operations: circumcision]

As one of the most frequently performed operations circumcisions can entail not only typical but also rare complications with possibly fatal consequences. The following areas are of particular importance: legal aspects of the operation, indication for an operation, pre-operative information, post-operative surveillance and after-care. The amount of circumcisions carried out in different European countries vary widely. This shows a difference in indication assessment, which may suppose that a number of operations are not necessary.

Triple incision to treat phimosis in children: an alternative to circumcision?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the functional and cosmetic results and patient satisfaction after triple incision plasty for phimosis in children.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 197 boys who had a triple incision for phimosis (mean age 5.8 years, range 0.25-18). The indications for preputial surgery were recurrent balanoposthitis, ballooning during micturition and severe phimotic stenosis. The results after surgery were assessed using a questionnaire about the child's/parent's satisfaction, and an outpatient follow-up examination for functional and cosmetic preputial appearance.

RESULTS

Of 128 parents/children responding, 108 (84%) were satisfied with the function and 102 (80%) reported a good cosmetic outcome. Triple incision as preputioplasty would be recommended to other parents by 119 (93%) respondents. Ninety-one (71%) of the parents feared disadvantages in their son's later life if the child had been circumcised. The outpatient examination showed an excellent functional and cosmetic outcome in 71 (77%) of the children.

CONCLUSION

Triple incision is a simple, fast and safe technique for preputial relief, with good functional and cosmetic results, and was well accepted by the patients.