Safe and Effective Anesthesia for Hypospadias Repair Surgery in Children

Hypospadias surgery is a procedure to correct the opening of the urethra on the underside of the penis. It is one of the most common pediatric urological surgeries. Ensuring your child’s safety and comfort throughout the surgery is paramount. Anesthesia plays a crucial role in achieving this goal.

Types of Anesthesia for Hypospadias Surgery:

 General Anesthesia: The most common approach, general anesthesia renders your child unconscious and pain-free. Medications are typically
administered intravenously (through an IV) or via inhalation through a breathing mask. The anaesthesia is usually short and there is no significant
effect on the child.

 Regional Anesthesia: Regional anaesthesia is one which works only in the specific area of the body. The regional anaesthesia used in hypospadias
repair is a caudal block, an injection near the tailbone for targeted pain control. This caudal block gives good pain relief for six to eight hours and
sometimes even up to ten hours after hypospadias surgery. Older children may feel tingly and numb in the lower limbs and may find it difficult to walk till it wears off, usually within first 12 hours

 Combined Anesthesia: Combining general and regional anesthesia offers the benefits of both: comprehensive pain management during surgery and a smoother recovery from general anesthesia.

The anaesthesia medicines chosen in children is such that there are minimal side effects and, we can resume oral intake as early as 1-2 hours after the hypospadias correction surgery.

Pediatric Anesthesiologists:

Anesthesia for hypospadias surgery is administered by a trained pediatric anesthesiologist, a medical doctor specializing in anaesthesia for infants and children and takes good care before, during, and after hypospadias repair surgery. They will meticulously assess your child’s health before hypospadias surgery, discuss anesthesia options, and choose the safest and most suitable approach for your child’s individual needs.

Communicate and Ask Questions:

Open communication with your child’s hypospadias surgeon & urologist and anesthesiologist is vital. Don’t hesitate to ask questions regarding the anesthesia plan and any concerns you may have. Feeling informed and involved in your child’s care can significantly ease anxieties.

At Hypospadias foundation, we have trained pediatric anesthesiologists who have managed more than thousands hypospadias correction repairs. From airway management, right medications to post operative pain relief we believe in a complete care of the child from pre surgery to post surgery. Safe and effective anaesthesia is necessary for good post operative recovery after hypospadias surgery.

Effective Pain Relief After Hypospadias Surgery

Pain relief is very important especially in a child because a cranky child makes the parents and the hypospadias surgeon anxious. After any procedure, it’s natural for your child to experience some discomfort but the discomfort should be manageable. Here’s a guide to effective pain relief after hypospadias surgery:

Doctor-Prescribed Medications:

 Pain relievers: After surgery we prescribe pain medications, often starting with acetaminophen(paracetamol) or ibuprofen. The medicines must be given as advised because good pain relief means a comfortable child and in turn leads to good healing after hypospadias repair.

 Antibiotics: To prevent infection, antibiotics are prescribed after hypospadias surgery. They must be continued till the catheter removal and
sometimes for a few days even after the hypospadias catheter is removed. Infection can destroy the entire hypospadias repair hence we need to be
vigilant and avoid infection at all costs.

 Bladder antispasmodics: The presence of a urinary tube can cause urinary bladder contractions. The only way to manage this is by prescribing anti spasmodic medicines. Hence after hypospadias surgery till the catheter removal, the child will be on anti-spasmodic medicines.

 Pain due to erection: Painful erections after hypospadias surgery occur in every child and are even more prominent in teenagers and adults. This pain can be quite bad due to swelling of penis and the presence of a urinary tube. Hence we prescribe a stronger painkiller diclofenac in the form of
suppository during these episodes of severe pain. This medicine gives good pain relief in times of extreme pain. For adults we also add more medicine to decrease painful erections at night.

At-Home Pain Management Strategies:

 Positioning: Encourage your child to rest comfortably, positioning themselves to minimize tension on the surgical area. This can be lateral or
supine position with pillow support.

 Distraction: Engaging your child in their favourite activities or games can help take their mind off any discomfort after hypospadias surgery

 Loose Clothing: Tight clothing can apply pressure on the operated site and cause discomfort to the child. Opt for loose-fitting clothing made from
breathable fabrics to avoid irritation.

 Dietary Adjustments: Prefer healthy nutritious food over processed food. Processed food does not have fibre and cause constipation in a child which in turn can cause bleeding at the operated site during straining. Maintaining hydration is also essential to prevent constipation.

 Hygiene: Maintain proper hygiene around the hypospadias surgical site as instructed by your doctor. Change inner diaper frequently when dirty and be vigilant for soling of dressing. If dressing gets dirty at any point, do visit the hospital and get a hypospadias dressing change.

 Activity Restrictions: Follow the doctor’s recommendations regarding activity levels to promote healing and prevent complications. Any vigorous
activities are generally avoided typically for 4-6 weeks after hypospadias surgery. Children can play at home and other board games comfortably.

Remember:

 Consult your Hypospadias Doctor: If pain seems excessive or worsens, consult your child’s doctor for further evaluation and possible medication
adjustments.

 Be Patient: Healing takes time after a hypospadias surgery. Be patient with your child and offer support throughout the recovery process.

At Hypospadias Foundation India, we have treated thousands of children and adults with hypospadias. Our approach to hypospadias repair includes
comprehensive care from preoperative to post operative period. Remember, every child heals at their own pace. By being prepared, informed, and supportive, you can help your child through this journey and ensure a successful recovery. Dr A.K.Singal and Dr Ashwitha Shenoy are rated as the best hypospadias surgeons in India. Their experience in the field of hypospadias makes them the best surgeons for hypospadias repair for both children and adults. If you need an opinion or consult us for your child, please do write to us at hypospadiasfoundationindia@gmail.com or fill up this contact form or visit us at the hospital.

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    Why does hypospadias occur?

    Why does hypospadias occur?

    Hypospadias is a congenital abnormality of the penis with an incidence of 1 in 150 live births. In hypospadias, the urinary opening (peehole) is in an abnormal position on the underside of the penis. As a parent of a child with hypospadias, you may wonder what causes hypospadias. Infact this is the most common question which parents ask us in the clinic- Why did my child develop hypospadias?

    Why does hypospadias occur

    The exact cause for hypospadias is not known but there are various factors which can increase the risk of hypospadias in your baby. This blog is to help you understand the probable factors which may lead to hypospadias in your baby boy.

    1. Genetic factors:

    Family history: While 90-95% of hypospadias are isolated cases, 5-10% of them do run in families. If the father or anyone in first degree family has hypospadias, then the risk of having hypospadias in subsequent male children increases.

    1. Environmental factors:

    Maternal exposure to pesticides or herbicides in pregnancy may cause hypospadias.

    These pesticides are known to be endocrine disruptors, they interfere with the androgen and oestrogen signalling pathways during genital development, hence causing hypospadias. This is a hypothesis and studies are still under process to clearly link exposure of pesticides to occurrence of hypospadias.

    There have been studies showing higher risk of hypospadias due to plasticisers in the single use plastic bottles. The chemicals here act as male hormone blockers and interrupt development of penis, hence causing hypospadias.

    1. Hormonal exposure in pregnancy:

    During pregnancy, certain hormones may be advised for the mother to decrease the chance of preterm labour or miscarriage. This is common after invitro fertilization (IVF) conception, twin pregnancy and in precious pregnancies. Carmichael reported that the use of progesterone to prevent early pregnancy loss was associated with risk of developing moderate to severe hypospadias.

    1. Maternal factors:

    Maternal pre pregnancy obesity with a BMI>30 has been associated with 1.3-to-2-fold increased risk of hypospadias compared to other women who had normal weight in the pre pregnancy period.

    Maternal nutrition is very important for the development of fetus. Folic acid supplementation in the pre conceptional period is necessary to prevent various congenital anomalies. Study conducted by Mavrogenis et al showed that folic acid supplementation early in pregnancy was associated with low risk of hypospadias.

    Hypertension in pregnancy and usage of anti-hypertensive medicines are associated with development of hypospadias in the fetus. Untreated hypertension has an odds ratio of is 2.1 and anti-hypertensive usage in pregnancy has an odds ratio of 1.6 for development of hypospadias. The cause for this is most likely because of reduced placental perfusion in hypertension.

    It has been hypothesized that the maternal use of estrogen and progestin may cause hypospadias because of interference with fetal androgen production or action. Several other medications have been associated with moderate to severe hypospadias. These include ibuprofen (odds ratio 1.2), Venlafexine(odd ratio 2.4), proton pump inhibitors(odds ratio 4.4) and clomiphene citrate(ovulation induction agent with odds ratio 1.9)

    1. Birth factors:

    Infants with hypospadias are most likely to be born preterm, low birth weight or small for gestational age. These are more strongly associated with severe hypospadias than the milder forms of hypospadias. Placental dysfunction may fail to stimulate fetal androgen production which is necessary for urethral closure. It also causes reduced transfer of nutrients to the fetus causing growth restriction. Placental dysfunction and androgen deficiency in early pregnancy are known to cause intrauterine growth restriction and hypospadias.

    The most important message here is that it is not the fault of the mother or father which can cause hypospadias in their child. The above-mentioned factors may increase the risk of hypospadias but that is not always true. A pregnant woman should take care of her health and avoid exposure to chemicals as much as possible. She should maintain a healthy diet, get good sleep, and avoid stress. Even if your child has hypospadias inspite of all the extra care, do not worry. Hypospadias is a condition that can be easily corrected by surgery by an expert pediatric urologist or a surgeon who specializes in hypospadias repairs.

     

    At hypospadias foundation India, we have been blessed to treated families having twins or two brothers with hypospadias. We also have cases where father had hypospadias and then their child had hypospadias. Some of these parents themselves did not achieve good results in their day and age but now with latest techniques which we use at Hypospadias Foundation, the results which their children get after hypospadias repair surgery are very good.

    In current era, success rate of hypospadias in first surgery itself is more than 95%. At hypospadias foundation, we treat hundreds of children and adults with hypospadias every year, both the ones which are primary or the ones where the previous repair has failed. If your child has hypospadias, do visit us, or consult us online to get the best hypospadias treatment for your child. Every child deserves the best and we are here to support you to give the best care to your child.

     

    Fill up contact form: https://www.hypospadiasfoundation.com/contact/

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