Topical application of local anesthetics for postoperative analgesia in children undergoing circumcision.

Circumcision often followed by severe pain during the postoperative period. Forty boys, ASA class I, presenting for day case circumcision were allocated randomly to receive either 4% prilocaine hydrochloride spray or 1.1% dipucaine ointment at the end of the operation. Analgesia was assessed by a single observer utilizing a three-point scale in recovery room. The parents were asked to complete the questionnaire 8h following operation and on the morning of the first postoperative day. At approximately 24h following operation an assessment of the child's activity level was made by the parents. The frequency of taking the oral analgesia was also recorded. Both topical analgesics provided satisfied analgesia during the postoperative period and no complication was noted. Only one patient in dipucaine group vomited in the recovery room. We conclude that topical use of prilocaine hydrochloride and dipucaine can provide a simple, safe and adequate analgesia for post-circumcision pain relief.