ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The surgical correction of a short frenulum includes several procedures that vary in complexity of the technique and the use of stitches, lasers, or skin grafts. However, little is known about the effect of these procedures on meatal stenosis. A possible association of frenular artery trauma during circumcision and subsequent meatal stenosis has raised concerns regarding the importance of frenulum preservation. We hereby report our experience over 15 years of applying the "pull-and-burn" method for short frenulum correction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 236 patients underwent the "pull-and-burn" procedure for short frenulum under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis between November 2002 and November 2017. The method is suture free and involves tearing the frenulum superficially and vertically by the aid of a low-power, high-frequency hyfrecator, avoiding the underlying frenular vessels. Patients were advised for a regular follow-up visit at 2-3 months postoperatively and were reviewed for symptoms and signs suggestive of meatal stenosis. RESULTS: Follow-up files were available for 228 patients (96.6%). No symptoms suggestive of meatal stenosis (dysuria and stream pattern abnormalities) were reported by any patient. Examination of the urethral meatus revealed normal appearance, with no signs of edema or scarring in all the 228 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The "pull-and-burn" method is a simple and safe procedure for the correction of short frenulum that respects anatomically the delicate vasculature of the frenular area, resulting in the preservation of the integrity of the urethral meatus.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A variety of surgical procedures of the penis can be performed under local anesthesia. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of EMLA cream anesthetic in such procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total 330 adult patients were subjected to minor penile surgery including: Complete circumcision (73), short frenulum plasty (168), meatotomy (14), fulguration of penile warts (56) and fulguration of urethral (meatal) warts (19). The level of anesthesia obtained by EMLA cream application along with any adverse effects was recorded. RESULTS: The use of EMLA on mucosal lesions provided excellent level of local anesthesia in almost all patients (245/246, 99.5%). Anesthesia of skin lesions was in part influenced by the site of application. Circumcision patients showed the lowest efficacy of the EMLA cream as the majority (~80%) required some form of further anesthesia until the completion of the procedure. No significant adverse effects were noted. A transient erythema was present in almost all mucosal applications. CONCLUSIONS: The topical anesthetic EMLA cream is a useful, efficient and safe tool for minor surgical procedures of the penis at the office setting, with the exception of circumcision, where an additional type of anesthesia is likely to be necessary. Side effects can be kept to a minimum when the suggested doses are respected (especially at mucosal application) and the time allowed for action is carefully tailored to the site of application and the type of procedure.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of the tissue adhesive enbucrilate in the treatment of symptomatic nephroptosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed adhesive nephropexy in 9 patients who presented with well-documented symptomatic nephroptosis that was demonstrated with intravenous pyelography and/or radionuclide renogram studies. The ptotic kidney was fixed on the psoas muscle using 0.5 ml of enbucrilate (Histoacryl). RESULTS: Adhesive nephropexy was successful in all 9 patients. Average operative time was 37 min. Postoperative opioid analgesia duration and hospital stay were limited (mean 2 and 4.4 days, respectively). Most patients returned to normal activity within 2 weeks (mean 14.2 days). Mean follow-up was 25 months and showed postoperatively a good anatomical result in radiographic studies as well as significant pain alleviation (mean 1 vs. 7 preoperatively, on a 10-point scale, p < 0.005 Wilcoxon rank test). CONCLUSIONS: The tissue adhesive enbucrilate seems to be a safe, efficient agent to obtain good results in a simple, quick approach in the surgical treatment of symptomatic nephroptosis.
