Anesthesia and Analgesia for Newborn Circumcision

Abstract

Newborn circumcision is likely the most common elective surgical procedure performed in children, yet a sizable portion of these procedures is performed without anesthesia or analgesia. This review discusses methods and techniques of analgesia and anesthesia for newborn circumcision. Behavioral, pharmacological, and regional block techniques are described. Ideally, the use of a combination of local anesthesia and behavioral techniques are most beneficial to newborns that undergo this painful procedure. Target Audience: Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family Physicians Learning Objectives: After completion of this article, the reader will be able to list the various techniques used to provide analgesia for the infant at the time of circumcision, summarize the reasons why anesthetics are not used at the time of circumcision, and explain the efficacy of each method in providing pain relief.