Electrosurgery Use During Post-Mohs Micrographic Surgery Repair and Complication Rates-How Important is a Dry Field?

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Surgical Oncology
• Plastic Surgery

Background:

• Electrosurgery is a common method for achieving hemostasis in surgical procedures.
• Limited research exists on the impact of electrodessication during Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) repair.
• Concerns regarding tissue aerosolization, occupational smoke exposure, and infectious disease transmission necessitate evaluating electrical hemostasis techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the use or avoidance of electrodessication during MMS repair and postoperative complications.
• To determine if electrodessication impacts patient outcomes or safety in MMS repair.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of electronic medical records from a single academic dermatology practice.
• Inclusion of MMS repair cases performed between January 1 and December 31, 2019.
• Comparison of outcomes between surgeons who used electrodessication and those who did not, analyzing demographic data, procedural details, and 90-day complications.

Main Results:

• 198 MMS repair cases utilized electrodessication, while 193 did not.
• No significant differences were observed in patient demographics, MMS procedure details, or 90-day complication rates between the groups.
• No major adverse events were directly linked to the MMS procedures.

Conclusions:

• The use or avoidance of electrodessication during MMS repair is not linked to an increase in 90-day postoperative complications.
• Allowing moderate oozing at the surgical site during MMS repair may be acceptable to minimize electrosurgical tissue damage and reduce occupational smoke exposure.