Technology Meets Tradition: CO(2) Laser Circumcision versus Conventional Surgical Technique

PURPOSE: We wished to present the clinical applications and to evaluate the benefits of the use of a carbon dioxide (CO(2)) laser versus the conventional procedure for circumcision in adults, in terms of duration of surgery, surgical techniques, complications, pain and cosmetic appearance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of 482 patients who had been circumcised were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups: 168 patients (Group A) were circumcised with traditional techniques; and 314 patients (Group B) were circumcised using a CO(2) laser. All the patients were circumcised under local anesthesia. Pain was evaluated using a verbal numerical rating scale for pain assessment. Postoperative wound swelling, bleeding, infection and pain were assessed at 4 hours, 24 hours and 7 days after surgery. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of bleeding and infections. The difference in operating times between the groups was significant (p<0.001). Wound disruptions occurred in one patient in Group A at 3 days and two patients in Group B at 1 week. Pain scores were low and there was less pain in Group B than in Group A during the first 4 hours (1.8 vs 3.7; p<0.002). Compared with the conventional method, the CO(2) laser technique was associated with much less pain at both 1 day (p<0.002) and 7 days (p<0.001) postoperatively. The cosmetic results were superior in Group B; a linear surgical scar developed in 94.9% of patients in Group B versus 61.3% in Group A (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results show that the use of a CO(2) laser was associated with a shorter operative time, less wound irritation and better cosmetic appearance compared with standard surgical techniques for circumcision.