Mercurochrome as an adjunct to local preoperative preparation in children undergoing hypospadias repair

Abstract

Objective To determine whether the local application of mercurochrome over genital skin before surgery, in addition to soap/water scrubs, can help to decrease the incidence of infection patients undergoing hypospadias repair, and thereby the incidence of ®stula formation. Patients and methods The study comprised 44 consecutive boys undergoing primary or repeat surgery for hypospadias between October 1999 and April 2000. They were arbitrarily divided into two groups; group 1 received a conventional local scrub with soap/water 48 h before surgery and group 2, a conventional local scrub with soap/water was followed by a local application of 2% mercurochrome for 48 h before surgery. Both groups were comparable in age, location of the meatus and stage of repair. All patients were exposed to similar conditions during and after surgery. Urine, skin and wound swabs taken before during and after surgery were assessed microbiologically, using standard precautions. The incidence of infection and complications was then compared. Results Mercurochrome signi®cantly decreased local infection, especially before surgery, but its effect in decreasing ®stula formation, although appreciable, was not statistically signi®cant. Conclusion The local application of mercurochrome after a soap/water scrub for at least 48 h before surgery is a simple, economic and effective means to decrease postoperative wound infection. Future studies are needed, keeping other determinants of ®stula formation constant, to evaluate its role in decreasing ®stula formation in patients undergoing hypospadias repair.

Acute postoperative complications of hypospadias repair

“…[24] Atraumatic handling of tissue, using skin hooks or stay sutures, rather than forceps is of help. If diversion is indicated, suprapubic tubes are better than intubated perineal urethrostomies.…”

Efficacy of Povidone‐iodine in Preputial Antisepsis

“…They reported 57% pathogen microorganisms in local skin swabs before the operation but did not mention whether the local area was the penile shaft or the dorsal or ventral sides of the penis or prepuce. They found that applying preoperative mercurochrome leads to a decrease in the incidence of fistula formation, although it was not statistically significant 12 . It is reported that 56% of local infection on admission and before the operation decreased to 23.3% after preoperative local scrubbing.…”

A Useful Tip for Preventing Surgical Site Infections after Hypospadias Repair. A Single Surgeon's Experience of 376 Cases

“…Despite pre-operative prepping with povidone-iodine soap/solution, use of prophylactic antibiotics, and/or use of intra-operative antibiotics to prevent SSIs,[ 6 ] minor and moderate SSIs after hypospadias surgery are common enough to be problematic and if severe can cause disruption of repair and wound dehiscence. [ 1 ] In such situations, proximal urinary diversion may even be needed.…”