Risk factors in pediatric dermatologic surgery

Specific risk factors for complications in pediatric dermatologic surgery have not been studied in previous reports.

Analyze complications of a cohort of children for anesthetic and surgical complications and determine specific risk factors for surgical complications.

Retrospective collection of data from 210 consecutive children having operations over 6 years. Bivariate and logistic regression statistical analysis of complications and risk factors was conducted for single step interventions.

General anesthesia complications were observed in 10.07 percent of the cases: Agitation and stridor were the most common anesthetic complications. Surgical complications were observed in 22.63 percent of the cases. Scar stretching followed by infection were the most prevalent complications. Complication rates, both anesthetic (9.09%) and surgical (13.63%) of multiple step interventions were similar to single step surgery. Intradermal absorbable suture in upper closure (p=0.028) and in limb (p=0.014) location were independently associated with complications.

General anesthesia is safe in pediatric dermatology in the hands of experienced pediatric anesthetists. The most frequent surgical complication was scar stretching. Limb location and use of absorbable continuous intradermal suture in the upper closures should be taken into account as possible risk factors when informing parents and performing these procedures.