NEW YORK, May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Promising
study results published in the May issue of JAIDS show that
a novel medical device has the potential to revolutionize how male
circumcision services are offered in countries hardest hit by the
HIV epidemic. Conducted by EngenderHealth, a global reproductive
health organization, and Weill Cornell Medical College, the study
found the device, known as the Shang Ring, is highly acceptable to
men and safe for further study in Africa.
“These positive results confirm that the Shang Ring is safe and
acceptable,” said Dr. Mark Barone, Senior Clinical Advisor at
EngenderHealth. “Not only is it a sutureless procedure with little
or no bleeding, but it is faster to perform and takes less time to
heal than conventional circumcision. Evidence is also mounting that
the Shang Ring will be feasible in low-resource settings.”
The Shang Ring is a disposable device consisting of two
concentric plastic rings that lock together over the foreskin.
Surgical circumcisions typically take 20-40 minutes to complete and
pose risks related to bleeding. But unlike conventional surgery,
the Shang Ring does not require sutures, involves minimal bleeding
and offers patients shorter procedure times (3-5 minutes).
“One of the unique and compelling features of the Shang Ring is
that it is so simple to perform that all health care professionals,
not only surgeons, could be trained to safely use the device,” said
Dr. Marc Goldstein, Professor of Urology, and Reproductive Medicine
at Weill Cornell Medical College and Surgeon-in-Chief, Male
Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, New York Presbyterian
Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. “This is critical in
countries where trained surgeons and physicians are scarce.”
Evidence has shown that male circumcision can reduce the risk of
heterosexual HIV transmission by up to 64%. The World Health
Organization and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
reco
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