The Length of Gomco Clamp Timing and Its Effect on Bleeding

Abstract

BACKGROUND Bleeding is the most common complication of circumcisions in newborns. Gomco clamps are used to perform neonatal circumcisions. Although a clamp time of 5 minutes is recommended, there is no evidence to support this recommendation. METHODS Circumcisions performed by attending physicians from the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at an academic children’s hospital were split into 2 groups. Group 1 had a clamp time of 5 minutes. Group 2 did not have a clamp time minimum. Nursing staff examined for bleeding at intervals of 15- and 30-minutes’ postprocedure. Bleeding was determined to be significant if pressure and/or a microfibrillar collagen hemostat agent was applied. RESULTS The study sample contained 23 physicians who saw a total of 1252 patients: 13 physicians (647 patients) in group 1 and 10 physicians (605 patients) in group 2. The average clamp time in group 2 was 2 minutes, 5 seconds. The estimated percentage of circumcisions that required microfibrillar collagen hemostat application was 5.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1–8.1) for group 1 and 5.6% (95% CI: 3.5–8.8]) for group 2. Circumcisions that had pressure applied were estimated to be 0.6% (95% CI: 0.2–1.7) for group 1 and 1.3% (95% CI: 0.5–3.1) for group 2. The difference between groups, in both categories, was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS In this prospective study we evaluated clamp time duration and bleeding outcomes for neonatal circumcision. Clamp time does not appear to have an association with bleeding risk. Providers need not maintain a 5-minute clamp time to decrease postprocedural bleeding.