Feasibility of partial penectomy under local anesthesia: a case–control study

To assess the feasibility of partial penectomy under local anesthesia and penile nerve blocks. A total of 45 patients underwent partial penectomy under local anesthesia over the last 15 years at our institute. These patients were included in group A. We took 45 age-matched controls for comparison in group B. All patients underwent partial penectomy with the standard technique. The control group underwent partial penectomy under general or spinal anesthesia, and the intervention group underwent partial penectomy under local anesthesia. Patients’ tolerance to anesthesia and surgery was compared, and postoperative pain and other complications were assessed. Mean age was 53.5 years in group A (case) and 52.8 years in group B (controls). Out of 45 patients in group A, 9 were ASA I, 16 were ASA II, 8 were ASA III, and 12 were ASA IV patients. Out of control patients, 35 underwent surgery under spinal and 10 underwent surgery under general anesthesia. All patients tolerated the anesthesia and surgery well. The duration of anesthesia and surgery was shorter in group A (p < 0.05). Postoperative pain scores between the two groups were comparable after 6 h. Postoperative recovery was comparable in both groups, and hospital stays were shorter in local anesthesia/nerve block group but were statistically insignificant. There was no positive margin in any group. Partial penectomy under local anesthesia is a satisfactory alternative in selected cases or with limited availability of anesthesia services.