Glans ischemia after circumcision in children: Two case reports

BACKGROUND: Circumcision refers to the removal of the skin covering the tip of the penis and is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in childhood. Even though circumcision is a well-standardized operation, several minor and major complications may be experienced by paediatric surgeons. Glans ischemia (GI) has been widely reported in the paediatric literature as a complication following circumcision. Nonetheless, etiopathogenesis of GI is not well defined and management guidelines are lacking. CASE SUMMARY: We describe our experience with this rare and scary complication using subcutaneous enoxaparin alone or in association with a topical vasodilator. CONCLUSION: Hypothetical causes and different management strategies are discussed.