Antidepressant usage and its postoperative outcomes on the surgical management of basal cell carcinomas: A...

Patients undergoing basal cell carcinoma (BCC) surgery often have coexisting psychiatric comorbidities and are often managed with antidepressants (ADPs). Despite the efficacy associated with the use of ADPs, there is limited research exploring the impact of ADPs on the outcomes of patients undergoing surgical management for BCC.

This study evaluates the impact of ADP usage on postoperative outcomes and complications in those receiving surgery for BCC.

Utilizing the TriNetX database, BCC patients were matched on a 1:1 basis according to ADP status. Outcome variables were evaluated over a 90-day follow-up period.

In a matched sample of 3197 patients, those on ADPs exhibited significantly higher rates of opioid prescriptions at 90 days (34.7% vs 17.5%; P < .001). Surgical site infection (1.7% vs 0.9%; P < .003), wound disruption (1.4% vs 0.6%; P < .001), hospital readmissions (8.3% vs 2.5%; P < .001), sepsis (1% vs 0.3%; P < .002), inpatient hospitalization (9.9% vs 3.3%; P < .001), and emergency department visits (9.2% vs 4.4%; P < .001) were also significantly higher in the ADP group at 90 days.

Patients on ADPs undergoing BCC surgery experience higher risks of opioid use, surgical site infection, wound disruption, hospital readmissions, sepsis, inpatient hospitalization, and emergency department visits.