Circumcision Circumspection

Historically, infants undergoing circumcision have not been given analgesia. The rationale was that infants do not feel, localize, or remember pain. In reality, they have all the anatomical and functional components required for nociception, and they react appropriately to painful stimuli. 1 – 5 Dur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe New England journal of medicine Vol. 336; no. 17; pp. 1244 - 1245
Main Author Wiswell, Thomas E
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Massachusetts Medical Society 24.04.1997
Subjects
Analgesia
Anesthetics, Local - therapeutic use
Circumcision, Male
Humans
Lidocaine - therapeutic use
Male
Pain - prevention & control
Prilocaine - therapeutic use
Urinary Tract Infections - prevention & control
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Summary:Historically, infants undergoing circumcision have not been given analgesia. The rationale was that infants do not feel, localize, or remember pain. In reality, they have all the anatomical and functional components required for nociception, and they react appropriately to painful stimuli. 1 – 5 During circumcision boys are agitated, cry intensely, and have changes in facial expression. Their heart rates and blood pressure increase, and their oxygenation decreases. Their serum cortisol, β-endorphin, and catecholamine concentrations rise. Clearly, circumcision is painful. In this issue of the Journal, Taddio and colleagues report the results of a study of the safety and efficacy of lidocaine–prilocaine . . .
Bibliography:SourceType-Other Sources-1
content type line 63
ObjectType-Editorial-2
ObjectType-Commentary-1
ISSN:0028-4793
1533-4406
DOI:10.1056/NEJM199704243361709