A newborn male is circumcised. what is the most essential nursing assessment during the initial postoperative period?

In the immediate post-operative period, the most important to watch out for in a newborn male that is circumcised is bleeding. The area of the skin around the glans or the prepuce is a very vascular area in which any form of trauma, including surgical procedures such as circumcision, may lead to excessive bleeding. Bleeding may also indicate an open wound which is very prone in contracting a secondary bacterial infection.

The nurse should evaluate essentially two aspects, the first is hygiene since it is vital to keep the glands area clean to avoid infections; and second, if the wound bleeds or begins to ooze a yellowish or whitish fluid as they are common signs of postoperative complication.

Moreover, the penis is a vascular area, and the nurse must monitor it closely for bleeding. It is too soon to detect signs of infection. If a circumcised infant is uncomfortable, he should be medicated for pain. This type of cry indicates that the central nervous system is damaged. Hence, if the urine output is low that is usually not considered a problem.