1 Department of Pediatrics University of Maryland Baltimore, Maryland 21201
The rare complication of urethral obstruction due to ritual circumcision (brit melah) so aptly described by Frand et al. is more often seen in Israel in general practice than in hospital practice. During a four-year period in the pediatric department of the same hospital no such complications were seen but, subsequently, in 1968 while working in part-time pediatric practice, I saw two such cases. The signs and symptoms were similar to those described, but very striking and worrisome to the parents was the fact that no urination had occurred since the time of the circumcision.