Gangrene of the penis due to strangulation by a metallic ring

Evaluation of the use of a specially designed saw to remove penis rings at the emergency department

Objective:

Penile strangulation is a rising problem in emergency departments (ED) and can cause serious medical issues. The removal of a penile ring requires immediate action, but is a difficult task. In this study an in-house specialised designed saw to safely remove penis rings is evaluated.

Materials and Methods:

To evaluate the use of the penis ring saw we used information from our maintenance management software to evaluate the amount of malfunctions. The evaluation of the experiences in the ED were based on semi-structured interviews with ED employees and with the mechanical engineers that developed and maintain the saw.

Results:

Since 2013 seven jobs were found regarding to a defect of the saw. All defects were broken saw blades. Four emergency care department employees and two instrumentmakers were interviewed. All four are pleased with the saw, because it improves patient safety during removal of the penis ring. The two instrument makers agree with the ED nurses that the saw is an improvement compared to the previous used solutions. Possible improvements were also suggested.

Conclusion:

A specialized saw was designed and developed for the removal of penis rings. This saw offers a safe and standardized way to remove the penis rings.

Penile Rings: No Innovation without Evaluation

Penile strangulation is a rare clinical entity which if left untreated can cause serious urogenital problems. We present the case of 45-year-old male patient who presented with penile strangulation after applying a metallic ring. Strangulation of the external male genitalia is a serious problem that requires urgent intervention in order to avoid serious complications. If left untreated, it can result in gangrene and penile amputation. Management of penile strangulation is a real challenge for the treating surgeon and should be treated as an emergency in order to avoid vascular compromise.

LEARNING POINTS

Penile strangulation by metallic rings is not routinely encountered in daily emergency practice and can be a challenge for the treating surgeon.Problem awareness is a crucial part of the management of such a rare entity.Every attempt should be made as early as possible to preserve penile arterial supply.

[Penile strangulation: about two patients living in rural areas]

La strangulation du pénis est une pathologie nécessitant une prise en charge en urgence. Plusieurs objets métalliques ou non, peuvent être placés sur le pénis pour augmenter les performances sexuelles ou pour des fins auto-érotiques. Nous rapportons les observations de deux patients schizophrènes de 25 et 33ans reçus aux urgences pour une strangulation du pénis par anneau métallique. L'anneau était placé au niveau du sillon balanopénien depuis 3 jours chez l'un et au niveau de la racine de la verge depuis 2 jours chez l'autre. Il n'y avait pas de trouble urinaire chez les deux patients. L'ablation de cet anneau a été réalisée par taxis sous anesthésie locale chez l'un et sous sédation à la fentanyl suivie d'une double section de l'anneau à l'aide d'un engin électrique dans le 2^ème cas. A travers cette observation nous rapportons la prise en charge non chirurgicale de ces cas pathologique.

Removal of a penile constriction device with a large orthopedic pin cutter

Penile strangulation is an infrequent clinical condition that has widely been reported. It usually results following placement of a constriction device to enhance sexual stimulation. Early treatment is essential to avoid potential complications, including ischemic necrosis and autoamputation. We describe the use of a Large Orthopedic Pin Cutter to remove a metal penile constriction device in the Emergency Department (ED). This case report describes the relatively safe technique of using an instrument available in many hospitals that can be added to the physician's arsenal in the removal of metal constriction devices.

Extrication of penile entrapment in a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle: a technique of suture traction and Dundee and literature review

OBJECTIVE

To describe the use of a technique of suture traction and Dundee in penile entrapment in the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle case. MEASURES AND METHODS: The technique of suture traction in conjunction with Dundee was performed for the management of penile entrapment in PET bottle neck. First, the technique of Dundee (manual compression after multiple prepuce punctures) was used to alleviate and resolve the preputial edema; second, the persistent suture traction power was applied to achieve the removal with lubrication. A review of the literature is also summarized in this report. Current treatment options and outcomes are also evaluated.

RESULT

The PET bottle neck was removed intact successfully in 50 min. Follow-up revealed he got full recovery without any complications. Literature review shows that penile incarceration in PET bottle is frequently described as an isolated case report or small series, the approach for dealing with these problems are often described using cutting instruments, the PET bottle could produce a fatal harm in extreme situation.

CONCLUSIONS

The technique combined suture traction with Dundee could be easy to perform without any special tools required in the management of penile entrapment involving PET bottles. It could be applied safely for the low-grade penile injury.

Penile strangulation: report of a fatal case

Penile strangulation or entrapment is an unusual entity that requires urgent treatment due to its potential complications. Several cases have been reported in the medical literature, some of them describing serious injuries such as necrosis, gangrene, and amputation of the penis. However, as far as we know, no fatal cases have been described before. We present the death of an adult male secondary to the complications due to penile strangulation with a plastic bottle neck. The time of incarceration was unknown, but according to a witness it could be about 10 to 14 days. The findings of autopsy were penile strangulation, necrosis of the penis, acute pyelonephritis, and bronchopneumonia. The subject's refusal to ask for medical help was the cause of this atypical evolution.

Penis covering and simultaneous urethral replacement by scrotal skin for severe penile and urethral necrosis

OBJECTIVES

Penile strangulation with severe necrosis and concomitant significant tissue loss is a challenging problem for reconstructive surgery. Final reconstruction and tissue augmentation of the resected penis often require multi-step plastic reconstruction.

METHODS

Severe damage of the phallus with gangrene and septic complication caused by a bronze ring were first conservatively treated to achieve dry gangrene. The glans of the penis, the whole penile skin, and distal third of the corpus spongiosum with the urethra were lost to necrosis, resulting in a missing urethral segment on the penis. Surgery was performed 3 months after removing the metal ring; a one-step skin and urethral reconstruction was done.

RESULTS

Good functional and esthetic results could be achieved by mid-term follow-up.

CONCLUSION

In long-lasting penile strangulation with damaged blood supply, further surgery and treatment are needed in addition to immediate decompression. Most commonly in these situations, amputation seems to be the best and easiest action to be taken. However, our case shows that even in a most severe situation, careful conservative treatment allows preserving the phallus, and subsequently reconstruction enables reaching the best functional and esthetic results.

Safe emergency department removal of a hardened steel penile constriction ring

BACKGROUND

Penile constriction devices are used for the enhancement of sexual performance. These devices have the potential to become incarcerated, leading to necrosis and amputation if not removed promptly.

OBJECTIVE

This article presents a step-by-step approach for the safe removal of a hardened steel penile constriction device using somewhat unorthodox tools found in a hospital.

CASE REPORT

We present a case of an incarcerated hardened steel penile constriction ring that was not able to be removed with conventional techniques. We describe a novel technique using an electric grinder and laryngoscope blade.

CONCLUSION

The technique described in this article is a valuable and relatively safe technique for the Emergency Physician to facilitate the timely removal of a hardened steel constriction device.

[Complete necrosis of the penis and testes by strangulation in a psychotic patient]

Complete necrosis of the penis and scrotum due to strangulation of the external genitalia is unusually encountered in urologic emergencies. Urological conservative management is recommended. Delayed presentation is a major source of complications. We report the case of a psychotic patient, who was transferred from the emergency department in a context of complete necrosis of the external genitalia. This patient's history included chronic psychotic disorder and positive HIV serology, but he refused to take either neuroleptic or antiretroviral therapy. Complete amputation of the penis and bilateral orchidectomy were performed. We report the first six months of medical management.

Der unsachgemäße Gebrauch eines Penisringes aus Titan

Constricting devices placed on the penis to improve sexual performance present a challenge to urologists. Various metallic and nonmetallic objects have been described -- plumbing cuffs, bull rings, wedding rings, plastic or rubber rings -- which usually could be removed by the combination of medical and operative treatment (decompression of the penis and glandular puncture) and craftsmen's techniques. We describe the case of a titanium thumb ring of 2 mm thickness which only could be removed by using an electric cutting tool.

Treatment of penile strangulation caused by constricting devices

Constricting devices placed on the penis present a challenge to urologists. Various nonmetallic and metallic objects are placed on the penis to increase sexual performance or because of autoerotic intentions. We describe five different cases of strangulating objects (wedding ring, metal plumbing cuff, bull ring, hammer- head, and plastic bottle neck) and demonstrate that each case needs individual handling in removing the object. The treatment of penile strangulation is decompression of the constricted penis to facilitate free blood flow and micturition. It requires no particular skill but does require resourcefulness to perform the removal simply and effectively, and with as little discomfort for the patient as possible.

Diseases of the foreskin, penis, and urethra

Diseases of the foreskin, penis, and urethra are uncommon conditions that constitute a small percentage of emergency department visits. However, it is important that the emergency physician recognize and treat these conditions and understand which conditions require urologic consultation. Rapid and proper treatment in the emergency department can alleviate patient discomfort, increase patient satisfaction, and prevent future morbidity.