title: A prospective randomised comparison of bipolar diathermy versus conventional dorsal slit technique for ritual circumcision: a Malaysian experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ritual circumcision is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the developing world. Various technique for circumcision has been described to increase patient's safety and to decrease operating time. This study will look at comparing the conventional method of circumcision using scissors and ligatures with bipolar diathermy. To compare the incidence of bleeding and infection in patients who underwent circumcision between using the bipolar diathermy technique with conventional surgery (dorsal slit) technique for circumcision. The operative time between the two techniques were also recorded.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomized study was conducted in all children undergoing ritual circumcision at Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital, Malaysia over a 1-year period. Data analysed were the operation time,postoperative bleeding rates and infection rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 341 patients were included in the study. Randomization resulted in 183 patients in conventional surgery group and 158 patients in bipolar group. The incidence of bleeding were significantly better in the bipolar group compared to conventional group (3.1% vs 19.7%), (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the infection rate (1.3% vs 2.7%) (p=0.457). Operative times were shorter in the bipolar diathermy group (Mean 8.2 minutes) compared to conventional group (Mean 15.3 minutes) (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bipolar diathermy technique for circumcision is safe and quicker than the dorsal slit technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M M A
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Fariz
authors.forename: M N M
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Tarmizi
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ainaini
authors.forename: A M I
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Khairil
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faizal
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sagap
mesh_terms: D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002944:Circumcision, Male / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003972:Diathermy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies