Bedside Removal of a Retained Plastibell Ring Using Handheld Electrocautery in the Emergency Department.
Publication/Presentation Date
9-1-2025
Abstract
We report a 15-day-old infant with a proximally migrated Plastibell and marked glans edema. Ligature release with gentle manipulation was unsuccessful; scissor division was judged unsafe, and a ring cutter was unavailable. A handheld, battery-powered fine-tip cautery was used at the bedside to melt and divide the plastic ring with tissue protection and local analgesia, permitting removal without sedation. Postremoval examination showed preserved perfusion without urethral injury, and five-month follow-up demonstrated normal healing and cosmesis. This case suggests that handheld cautery may be a feasible and resource-conscious alternative when mechanical methods are unsuitable or unavailable. Careful patient selection and thermal safety measures are essential, and further experience is needed to define their role.
Volume
17
Issue
9
First Page
92578
Last Page
92578
ISSN
2168-8184
Published In/Presented At
Press, B. H., Chu, E., & Blum, E. S. (2025). Bedside Removal of a Retained Plastibell Ring Using Handheld Electrocautery in the Emergency Department. Cureus, 17(9), e92578. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.92578
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Pediatrics
PubMedID
41111755
Department(s)
Department of Pediatrics, Department of Surgery
Document Type
Article