In all but two infants the response was excellent, demonstrated by too distal an injection on the left, since the child responded to painful stimuli with the application of forceps on that side only Bleeding at the injection site did not occur, except in one case in which the right superficial dorsal vein was penetrated. In all infants the lidocaine induced subcutaneous swelling at the penile root had disappeared in less than 24 hours after the procedure. Neither hematoma nor volume-induced pressure were observed. To feel pain is one of the functions of normality, and every normal neonatel feels pain. Nothing is known of the long-term effects of painful experiences sustained in the neonatal period on the subsequent shaping and realization of an infant's potential.
Circumcision is painful and consequently stressful.
9,12 Using PDNB, the neonate can be spared the pain of circumcision and its consequent stress. The technique developed and described herein virtually abolishes circumcision pain as shown by a quiet child during the operation. No complications or untoward effects of lidocaine were encountered. The effect of lidocaine wore off completely within 30 minutes. The complications of circumcision described by others were not seen in this group.