Patient satisfaction high for mohs micrographic surgery

(HealthDay)—For patients with skin cancer, Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is safe and well tolerated, with high levels of patient satisfaction, according to a research letter published online July 5 in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Walayat Hussain, M.B.Ch.B., from the Leeds Centre for Dermatology in the United Kingdom, and colleagues performed a prospective assessment of all cases treated with MMS over a three-month period to assess the safety, complication rate, and patient acceptance of MMS in the United Kingdom. Data were included for 565 patients with 565 tumors, of which 533 were basal cell carcinoma.

The researchers found that 88 percent of reconstructions were performed within the department on the day of admission. The mean number of stages was 1.3. There were no reports of major complications; four minor vasovagal intraoperative complications were reported. Postoperative complications included pain (five patients), bleeding (15 patients), infection (six patients), hematoma (one patient), and superficial flap necrosis (13 patients). Patient scores demonstrated low anxiety levels (3 of 10 on Likert scale), and high tolerance of surgery and satisfaction with surgery (9 and 10 of 10 on Likert scale, respectively).

"This review of MMS in the United Kingdom supports the fact that MMS and reconstruction performed under local anesthesia is safe, well tolerated, and associated with high levels of patient satisfaction," the authors write.

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