Introduction: The effect of suture materials on urethroplasty complications is debated. Indeed, materials with a delayed absorption might either reduce the incidence of fistulas by ensuring a prolonged approximation of neo-urethral edges or increase the risk of urethral strictures due to a prolonged tissue reaction during suture absorption. We retrospectively evaluated the role of suture materials in the complication rate of urethroplasty procedures performed in our institution over a 10-year period. Patients and Methods: Three hundred and thirty-six boys undergoing a flap procedure (parameatal based, preputial tube, or onlay preputial flap) for hypospadias repair were considered for this study. The patients were stratified into two groups according to the suture material used for urethroplasty. Polyglactin (Vicryl®), a polyfilament with intermediate absorption, was used in 254 group A patients, whereas polydioxanone (PDS®), a monofilament with prolonged absorption, was used in 82 group B patients. The success of a one-stage repair and stricture and fistula rates were evaluated. Results: A successful one-stage repair was achieved in 82% of the group A and in 83% of the group B patients (p = 0.97). No statistically significant differences were noted in fistula and/or stricture rates in the two groups, even considering each procedure separately. Conclusions: This series suggests that suture materials do not affect the complication rate in flap urethroplasty procedures. Appropriate technique, meticulous surgery, and surgeon experience seem to be more crucial factors. A randomized trial is warranted.

Postoperative pain is less intense after laparoscopic than after open surgery. However, minimally invasive surgery is not a a pain-free procedure. Many trials have been done in adults using intraperitoneal and/or incisional local anesthetic, but similar studies have not yet been reported in the literature in children. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of periportal infiltration and intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine in children undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery were randomly allocated to one of three groups. Group A (n = 10) received local infiltration of port sites with 10 mL of ropivacaine. Group B (n = 10) received both an infiltration of port sites with 10 mL of ropivacaine and an intraperitoneal instillation of 10 mL of ropivacaine. Group C did not receive any analgesic treatment. The local anesthetic was always administered at the end of surgery. The degree of postoperative abdominal parietal pain, abdominal visceral pain, and shoulder pain was assessed by using a Wong-Baker pain scale and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 3, 6 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. The following parameters were also evaluated: rescue analgesic treatment, length of hospital stay, and time of return to normal activities. Results: Three hours after operation, patients had low pain scores. Six and 12 hours postoperatively, the abdominal parietal pain was significantly higher (P < 0.0005) in group C than in the other two groups, both treated with an infiltration at the trocar sites; mean intensity of abdominal visceral pain was significantly lower (P < 0.0005) in group B than in groups A and C; the overall incidence of shoulder pain was significantly lower (P < 0.0005) in group B patients than in patients of groups A and C. At 20 hours postoperatively, pain scores were significantly reduced of intensity in all groups. Rescue analgesic treatment was significantly higher in group C, if compared to groups A and B 12 hours after the operation. No statistically significant difference was found in length of hospital stay, but children who received analgesic treatment had a more rapid return to normal activities than untreated patients (P < 0.0005). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that the combination of local infiltration and intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine is more effective for pain relief in children after laparoscopic surgery than the administration of ropivacaine only at the trocar sites.