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© 2023 The Authors. Société Internationale d'Urologie Journal, published by the Société Internationale d'Urologie, Canada.

SIUJ.ORG SIUJ  •  Volume 4, Number 3  •  May 2023

Key Words Competing Interests Article Information

Male circumcision, postoperative 
complications, ischemia

None declared.

Patient Consent: Obtained.

Received on December 13, 2022 
Accepted on December 15, 2022

Soc Int Urol J. 2023;4(3):231

DOI: 10.48083/ECNT1039

231

CLINICAL PICTURE

A 28-year-old otherwise healthy male underwent an uncomplicated circumcision under general anaesthetic 
supplemented with a ring and dorsal nerve block of the injected 15 mL of 0.25% plain bupivacaine. The skin and 
mucosal collars were reapproximated with simple 4-0 Vicryl Rapide sutures, and the penis was loosely wrapped with 
Vaseline gauze, and 2-inch Kling gauze. The patient was discharged uneventfully from the recovery room.

Approximately 6 hours after surgery, the patient returned to the emergency room as the exposed glans penis 
appeared black and felt firm. The penile dressings were immediately removed. Examination revealed a cool, black 
glans with an abrupt transition distal to where the dressings had been applied (Figure 1). The glans softened after 
dressing removal and the suture line was not restrictive. There was decreased sensation to the entire penis but no pain. 
The patient was voiding normally. 

Our clinical impression was the unusual event of ischemia of the glans secondary to venous congestion from a tight 
dressing. With all dressings removed, the patient was admitted to hospital for observation with ancillary measures of 
one 50 mg dose of intravenous hydrocortisone as well as prophylactic cefazolin and commencement of aspirin 325 mg 
daily.

Upon reassessment the subsequent morning, the glans had re-perfused with patches of pink colouration inter-
rupted by purple discolouration. Distal penile sensation had improved. The patient was discharged home on aspirin 
325 mg and prophylactic cephalexin for 7 days.

On the 5th postoperative day the reperfusion continued to improve, and by the 12th day there were only a few scat-
tered areas of purple discolouration. Four months postoperatively, the patient had made a full recovery with a good 
cosmetic result and no voiding or erectile dysfunction.

Glans Ischemia After Circumcision

Anna Black, Ryan Paterson

Department of Urologic Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

FIGURE 1.

Discolouration and reperfusion of 
the glans penis after circumcision. 
Images of the glans are shown on 
postoperative day (POD) 0, 1, and 5. 
The arrow indicates the distal margin 
of the dressing that was applied after 
circumcision and removed upon 
admission to the ER. 

POD 0 POD 1 POD 5

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