O3343: Feasibility of Taping for Penile Straightening in Hypospadias: Insights from Families

Background: Recently, a novel method was published for correcting penile ventral curvature in hypospadias, known as the TAping In between PEnile Incisions (TAIPEI) procedure. The efforts required from caregivers and parents to implement taping 24 has been questioned. To better understand the challenges faced by families, we designed a questionnaire assessing the feasibility and adverse effect of taping in hypospadias patients.

Methods: We designed a questionnaire to explore potential issues related to the implementation of taping. This survey aimed to understand the practical challenges faced by families, including the effort required to keep the penis in place and retaping, financial difficulties, children's adaptation, and potential side effects of taping.

Results: A total of 90 respondents anonymously completed the questionnaire. Most caregivers found taping easy to perform. The difficulties usually included the tape easily falling off, the child's reluctance to cooperate, or the penis being too short to tape properly. Interestingly, many caregivers reported that taping became easier after a period of time, typically within 1-3 months after starting. On average, most respondents indicated that the penis was taped for more than 14 hours per day. The tape was usually reapplied less than five times a day, with each taping session taking less than five minutes. Overall, 90% of respondents rated the ease of taping as moderate to very simple.

Conclusion: The TAIPEI procedure for correcting penile curvature in hypospadias appears to be feasible for families to implement at home. With clear instructions and proper guidance, most caregivers find the taping process manageable.