title: Circumcision with the Nd:YAG laser contact technique compared with conventional surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was undertaken to assess the degree of efficacy of the Nd:YAG laser contact technique as compared with conventional surgery in circumcision.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser in urology has many advantages over conventional surgical techniques. Clinical comparative studies between the Nd:YAG laser and conventional circumcision in boys have not yet been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study compared the clinical effects of the Nd:YAG laser contact technique with those of a conventional technique on the grounds of certain perioperative parameters, including operative time, length of hospital stay, postoperative complications and morbidity. Seventy-five patients undergoing circumcision were reviewed retrospectively. Operative time, length of hospital stay, and postoperative morbidity were analyzed. Differences between contact Nd:YAG laser surgery and conventional surgery were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Operative time in the Nd:YAG laser treated group was significantly increased compared with conventionally treated patients (31.6 +/- 3.6 min vs. 19.8 +/- 1.9 min, p < 0.001). The length of hospital stay and early and late postoperative morbidity were significantly decreased in circumcised patients with the Nd:YAG laser contact technique compared with the conventional technique regardless of the indication for surgery (9.71 +/- 4.5 h vs. 11.8 +/- 5.1 h, p < 0.05 and 2% vs. 9%, p < 0.05 and 0% vs. 7.2%, p < 0.05, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the Nd:YAG laser contact technique is an effective laser-assisted procedure alternative to the conventional technique in circumcision with virtually no significant postoperative morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, P&A Kyriakou Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece. gvaos@hotmail.com
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vaos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002944:Circumcision, Male / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D009354:Neodymium; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011336:Probability; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D013519:Urogenital Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D009354:Neodymium