Identifying critical quality metrics in Mohs Surgery: A national expert consensus process.

BACKGROUND: Amid a movement toward value-based healthcare, increasing emphasis has been placed on outcomes and cost of medical services. To define and demonstrate the quality of services provided by Mohs surgeons, it is important to identify and understand the key aspects of Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) that contribute to excellence in patient care. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to develop and identify a comprehensive list of metrics in an initial effort to define excellence in MMS. METHODS: Mohs surgeons participated in a modified Delphi process to reach a consensus on a list of metrics. Patients were administered surveys to gather patient perspectives. RESULTS: Twenty-four of the original 66 metrics met final inclusion criteria. Broad support for the initiative was obtained through physician feedback. LIMITATIONS: Limitations of this study include attrition bias across survey rounds and participation at the consensus meeting. Furthermore, the list of metrics is based on expert consensus instead of quality evidence-based outcomes. CONCLUSION: With the goal of identifying metrics that demonstrate excellence in performance of MMS, this initial effort has shown that Mohs surgeons and patients have unique perspectives and can be engaged in a data-driven approach to help define excellence in the field of MMS.

Deep learning for dermatologists: Part II. Current applications.

Because of a convergence of the availability of large data sets, graphics-specific computer hardware, and important theoretical advancements, artificial intelligence has recently contributed to dramatic progress in medicine. One type of artificial intelligence known as deep learning has been particularly impactful for medical image analysis. Deep learning applications have shown promising results in dermatology and other specialties, including radiology, cardiology, and ophthalmology. The modern clinician will benefit from an understanding of the basic features of deep learning to effectively use new applications and to better gauge their utility and limitations. In this second article of a 2-part series, we review the existing and emerging clinical applications of deep learning in dermatology and discuss future opportunities and limitations. Part 1 of this series offered an introduction to the basic concepts of deep learning to facilitate effective communication between clinicians and technical experts.

Hemorrhagic complications of cutaneous surgery for patients taking antithrombotic therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cutaneous operations are generally safe procedures with minimal major risks. Excessive bleeding occasionally occurs, especially for patients taking antithrombotic medications. Conversely, stopping these medications before cutaneous surgery may increase the risk of a thromboembolic event. We aimed to synthesize the evidence regarding the risk of hemorrhage and thromboembolic events for patients undergoing cutaneous surgery while taking antithrombotic therapy. We performed a comprehensive search to identify randomized controlled trials and cohort studies that compared rates of hemorrhage and/or thromboembolic events between patients receiving antithrombotic therapy at cutaneous surgery and patients not receiving it. Odds ratio (OR) and risk difference for complications were calculated with random-effects models. Of 9214 patients taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications, 323 (3.5%) had hemorrhagic complications; of 21,696 control patients, 265 (1.2%) had hemorrhagic complications. Patients taking antithrombotic therapy had increased bleeding risk relative to control patients (OR 2.63 [95% CI 1.90-3.63]; P < 0.001) and an increased but less clinically important risk difference (OR 0.02 [95% CI 0.01-0.03]; P < 0.001) with high heterogeneity. No difference was observed in hemorrhage rates among patients whose antithrombotic therapy was stopped vs continued (OR 1.16 [95% CI 0.73-1.83]; P = 0.54). No difference was seen in rates of thromboembolic events among patients taking antithrombotic therapy vs control patients. However, two serious thromboembolic events were noted in a cohort of 59 patients whose antithrombotic therapy was stopped. Because of potentially devastating effects of thromboembolic events, the current accepted practice is indicated for continuation of antithrombotic therapy for patients undergoing cutaneous surgery.

A 28-year single institution experience with primary skin malignancies in the pediatric population.

The aim of this study is to report our institution's experience with pediatric skin malignancies. A single institution retrospective review of pediatric patients with a primary skin malignancy from 1992 to 2020 was performed. Demographics, tumor characteristics and treatment outcomes were reviewed. Ninety-nine patients with 109 primary malignant skin lesions were reviewed. The most common lesion was malignant melanoma [MM] (n = 50, 45.9%). Compared to non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), MM were more likely to present on trunk or extremities (p=.01, OR = 3.2), and be misdiagnosed (p=.03, OR = 2.7). NMSC were more common in the head and neck region (p=.01, OR = 3.2), and were associated with a personal history of skin cancer (p=.0005, OR = 17.1) or a known risk factor (p=.04, OR = 2.5). Patients with MM were 12.4-times more likely to develop metastatic disease compared to NMSC (p<.0001). Increased Breslow's thickness also increased the odds of developing metastatic disease (p=.03, OR = 1.6 per 1-mm increase). Interval time between lesion recognition and diagnostic biopsy or surgical treatment did not impact overall survival. Malignant melanoma was the most common malignancy in our cohort, followed by basal cell carcinoma. Malignant melanoma was the most likely tumor to be misdiagnosed and/or metastasize. Treatment delays did not impact risk of metastasis, recurrence or survival rate, though some patients succumbed to disease. These results may be attributed to small sample size or the biology of melanoma in pediatric patients. Awareness of skin malignancies in the pediatric population is imperative to providers and the public, with low threshold for specialty consultation and excision when warranted.

Outcomes of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Primary Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist on sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) of the head and neck. OBJECTIVE: To review the results of SLNB for patients with cSCC of the head and neck at the authors' institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was completed for patients who underwent SLNB for cSCC of the head and neck over 19 years. Patient demographics, immune status, tumor stage, total patients with positive SLNB, local recurrence, nodal recurrence, in-transit metastasis, and disease-specific death were recorded. RESULTS: Sixty patients underwent lymphoscintigraphy, and an SLN was identified in 58 patients. The mean follow-up was 3.2 years (range, 15 days-16 years). Four patients (6.9%) had a positive SLNB. All were Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) stage T2b tumors. Three of these patients were immunosuppressed, 3 patients underwent neck dissection, and 2 patients received adjuvant radiation. None developed local or regional recurrence. Of the 53 patients with a negative SLNB, there were 4 local recurrences, 2 in-transit metastases, and no nodal recurrences. CONCLUSION: Immunosuppressed patients with tumors BWH stage T2b or greater may be a reasonable cohort to focus future prospective studies on the utility of SLNB in cSCC of the head and neck.

Deep learning for dermatologists: Part I. Fundamental concepts.

Artificial intelligence is generating substantial interest in the field of medicine. One form of artificial intelligence, deep learning, has led to rapid advances in automated image analysis. In 2017, an algorithm demonstrated the ability to diagnose certain skin cancers from clinical photographs with the accuracy of an expert dermatologist. Subsequently, deep learning has been applied to a range of dermatology applications. Although experts will never be replaced by artificial intelligence, it will certainly affect the specialty of dermatology. In this first article of a 2-part series, the basic concepts of deep learning will be reviewed with the goal of laying the groundwork for effective communication between clinicians and technical colleagues. In part 2 of the series, the clinical applications of deep learning in dermatology will be reviewed and limitations and opportunities will be considered.

Consensus-Based Recommendations on the Prevention of Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Delphi Consensus Statement.

IMPORTANCE: There is a paucity of evidence to guide physicians regarding prevention strategies for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs). OBJECTIVE: To examine the development and results of a Delphi process initiated to identify consensus-based medical management recommendations for prevention of CSCC in SOTRs. EVIDENCE REVIEW: Dermatologists with more than 5 years' experience treating SOTRs were invited to participate. A novel actinic damage and skin cancer index (AD-SCI), consisting of 6 ordinal stages corresponding to an increasing burden of actinic damage and CSCC, was used to guide survey design. Three sequential web-based surveys were administered from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. Pursuant to Delphi principles, respondents thoroughly reviewed all peer responses between rounds. Supplemental questions were also asked to better understand panelists' rationale for their responses. FINDINGS: The Delphi panel comprised 48 dermatologists. Respondents represented 13 countries, with 27 (56%) from the US. Twenty-nine respondents (60%) were Mohs surgeons. Consensus was reached with 80% or higher concordance among respondents when presented with a statement, question, or management strategy pertaining to prevention of CSCC in SOTRs. A near-consensus category of 70% to less than 80% concordance was also defined. The AD-SCI stage-based recommendations were established if consensus or near-consensus was achieved. The panel was able to make recommendations for 5 of 6 AD-SCI stages. Key recommendations include the following: cryotherapy for scattered actinic keratosis (AK); field therapy for AK when grouped in 1 anatomical area, unless AKs are thick in which case field therapy and cryotherapy were recommended; combination lesion directed and field therapy with fluorouracil for field cancerized skin; and initiation of acitretin therapy and discussion of immunosuppression reduction or modification for patients who develop multiple skin cancers at a high rate (10 CSCCs per year) or develop high-risk CSCC (defined by a tumor with approximately ≥20% risk of nodal metastasis). No consensus recommendation was achieved for SOTRs with a first low risk CSCC. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Physicians may consider implementation of panel recommendations for prevention of CSCC in SOTRs while awaiting high-level-of-evidence data. Additional clinical trials are needed in areas where consensus was not reached.

Clinical outcomes of solid organ transplant recipients with metastatic cancers who are treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: A single-center analysis.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer therapy, but to the authors' knowledge, limited data exist regarding the safety and efficacy of these agents in transplant recipients. Herein, the authors have reported their experience with 17 patients who were treated with ICIs for metastatic malignancies after undergoing solid organ transplantation. METHODS: Data were abstracted for solid organ transplant recipients who received ICIs for the treatment of malignancy between January 1, 2016, and September 30, 2019. The authors identified 7 kidney, 8 liver, and 2 heart transplant recipients. Outcomes of interest were adverse drug reactions, cancer progression, and patient survival. RESULTS: The most common malignancies treated with ICIs were metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (5 patients; 29%) and hepatocellular carcinoma (5 patients; 29%), which were noted exclusively among liver transplant recipients. The median duration on ICIs was 1.7 months (interquartile range, 0.4-7.6 months). Five patients (29%) developed adverse reactions, including 4 patients (24%) with immune-related adverse events(irAEs), 3 patients (18%) with acute allograft rejections, 1 patient (6%) with autoimmune colitis, and 1 patient (6%) with ICI-induced cardiotoxicity (the patient was a heart transplant recipient). The cumulative incidence of cancer progression was 50% and 69%, respectively, at 6 months and 12 months. Eleven patients (65%) died over the median follow-up period of 4.6 months (interquartile range, 1.5-13.2 months) from the time of ICI initiation, with cancer progression being the most common cause of death. CONCLUSIONS: ICIs can be used as individualized therapy in selected patients who have undergone solid organ transplantation but more studies are needed to determine how best to use these agents to improve outcomes further.

Safety of Oral Midazolam as a Perioperative Anxiolytic for Outpatient Dermatologic Procedures.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative anxiety can negatively impact patient satisfaction and can complicate outpatient dermatologic procedures. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate adverse events associated with oral midazolam as a perioperative anxiolytic during dermatologic surgery and assess whether an enhanced monitoring approach is associated with an increased detection rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred cases (250 before and after change in monitoring) where patients were administered oral midazolam between July 2015 and May 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. The number of procedures, type of procedures, dose in milligrams, number of doses, major and minor adverse events, and vital signs were recorded. RESULTS: The difference in number of treatment sites, types of procedures, and total dose administered was not significant. There were minor but significant differences in the mean change in blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale score before and after the procedure but not oxygen saturation. These vital sign changes were not clinically significant. There were zero major adverse events in both groups. There were 2 patients who became transiently hypoxic. CONCLUSION: Oral midazolam administration was not associated with major adverse events including in the more intensively monitored group. This supports its use as an anxiolytic for outpatient dermatologic procedures.

Invention in Dermatology: A Review

Dermatologists are among the most inventive physicians, trained in the multiple disciplines of medical dermatology, surgical dermatology, and dermatopathology. Many of the advances in dermatology practice have been derived from inventive colleagues who identify opportunities for improvement in practice, develop viable prototypes to address these practice opportunities, and persevere through the hard work of developing new technologies to advance the practice of dermatology. In this article, we will review the basic elements of invention, patents, and the range of outcomes associated with the pursuit of invention. Examples of innovative dermatologic technologies and approaches will be reviewed. Opportunities abound for dermatologists to contribute to the advancement of medical care through invention in our specialty. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(9):904-908.

Incidence of Malignancies in Patients Treated With Sirolimus Following Heart Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Malignancy is a major cause of late post-heart transplantation (HT) mortality. Sirolimus (SRL) exerts antiproliferative properties and its long-term use in HT as primary immunosuppression (IS) is associated with decreased mortality risk that is not fully explained by attenuation of cardiac allograft vasculopathy progression. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to examine whether conversion from calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based to SRL-based IS was associated with decreased risk of malignancy post-HT. METHODS: Overall, 523 patients underwent HT between 1994 and 2016 at a single institution. The main outcomes included incidence of overall de novo malignancies (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers [NMSCs]), post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD), and first and subsequent primary occurrences of NMSC post-HT. RESULTS: The study identified 307 patients on SRL-based and 216 on CNI-based maintenance IS. Over a median follow-up of 10 years after HT, overall de novo malignancies (non-NMSC) occurred in 31% of CNI patients and in 13% of SRL patients (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 0.34; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.18 to 0.62; p < 0.001). The incidence of the first NMSC was similar in the SRL and CNI groups (HR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.66 to 1.28; p = 0.62). However, conversion to SRL was significantly associated with a decreased risk of subsequent primary occurrences of NMSC compared with that of CNI (adjusted HR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.69; p < 0.001). The adjusted PTLD risk was significantly decreased in the SRL group (HR: 0.13; 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.59; p = 0.009). Late survival post-HT was markedly decreased in patients who developed non-NMSC, PTLD, or non-PTLD compared with patients who did not develop these malignancies, whereas NMSC had no significant effect on survival. CONCLUSIONS: Conversion to SRL was associated with a decreased risk of all de novo malignancies, PTLD, and subsequent primary occurrences of NMSC after HT. These findings provided further explanation of the late survival benefit with long-term SRL use.

Opioid prescribing for acute postoperative pain after cutaneous surgery.

BACKGROUND: Little information is available to predict which patients require opioid analgesia following cutaneous surgery. When opioids are indicated, information regarding the optimal opioid agent selection and dosage is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To make recommendations for opioid prescription after cutaneous surgery. METHODS: A PubMed literature search was conducted to review the available literature. Recommendations are presented on the basis of available evidence and the opinion of the authors. RESULTS: Most patients undergoing cutaneous surgery do not require opioid analgesia. For those who do, the duration of pain warranting opioid analgesia is generally less than 36 hours. Opioid refill requests warrant a follow-up visit to ascertain the cause of ongoing pain after excisional procedures. LIMITATIONS: The recommendations are not based on prospective randomized trials. CONCLUSIONS: The presented recommendations for opioid prescription practice are derived from available evidence, recommendations, and expert opinion.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in Merkel cell carcinoma: The Mayo Clinic experience of 150 patients.

BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare cutaneous malignancy of neuroendocrine origin with a high propensity for lymph node metastasis. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) status is important for accurate staging; however, the optimal treatment following SLN biopsy, regardless of nodal status, remains unclear. METHODS: 150 patients with MCC who underwent SLN biopsy from 1995 to 2011 at 3 Mayo Clinic sites were reviewed. RESULTS: Of 150 patients with MCC who underwent SLN biopsy, 39 (26%) were positive and 111 (74%) were negative. There was no significant difference between the sex, age, tumor location, or size of primary in the positive and negative SLN groups. While there was no difference in the cumulative incidence of any regional recurrence between SLN groups, the rate of in-transit recurrences was significantly higher in patients with a positive SLN (p = 0.022). The disease-specific survival for MCC was 97.0%, 82.4%, and 82.4% at 1, 3, and 5 years with a positive SLN and 99.0%, 94.9%, and 86.8% with a negative SLN (p = 0.31). Among those alive at last follow up, the median follow up was 3.8 years (IQR, 2.1-8.4) and 2.9 years (IQR, 1.8-6.1) for positive and negative SLN cohorts respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Occult nodal metastasis is common in MCC(26%). No tumor or patient characteristics were identified to predict SLN positivity. Patients with a positive SLN have a higher risk of in-transit recurrence and may benefit from adjuvant radiation with inclusion of the in-transit field in amenable cases. When patients with a positive SLN receive additional treatment to the at-risk nodal basin, both OS and DSS are similar to patients with a negative SLN.

A new evidence-based risk stratification system for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma into low, intermediate, and high risk groups with implications for management.

Most primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas are cured with surgery. A subset, however, may develop local and nodal metastasis that may eventuate in disease-specific; death. This subset has been variably termed high risk. Herein, we review; an emerging body of data on the risks of these outcomes and propose an evidence-based; risk stratification for low-, intermediate-, and high-risk tumors that takes into; account both tumor and patient characteristics. Finally, we discuss a framework for; management of these tumors on the basis of data, when available, and our; recommendations when data are sparse.

Surgical Treatment and Outcomes of Patients With Extramammary Paget Disease: A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is a rare intraepithelial adenocarcinoma occurring mainly in the anogenital region. Traditional management with wide local excision has shown high recurrence rates, thus Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) has emerged as a promising treatment option. OBJECTIVE: To compare long-term outcomes after treatment with MMS or excision for primary EMPD. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Retrospective cohort review was conducted for 207 patients with EMPD treated at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, between 1961 and 2012. RESULTS: Of the 25 patients treated with MMS, 19 primary tumors were included for outcome analysis, with an estimated 5-year recurrence-free survival rate of 91% (95% confidence interval [CI], 75-100) using Kaplan-Meier curve analysis. Of 158 patients treated with local excision, 124 were included for the analysis, with an estimated 5-year recurrence-free survival rate of 66% (95% CI, 56-78). The hazard ratio (HR) for association of treatment was 0.4 (95% CI, 0.10-1.65; p = .20). Estimated 5-year overall survival rates were 79% for MMS (95% CI, 61-100) and 68% for excision (95% CI, 59-78) (HR, 1.39 [95% CI, 0.69-2.82]; p = .36). CONCLUSION: Although treatment of primary EMPD with MMS versus excision did not show statistical difference, MMS demonstrated favorable long-term outcomes and was associated with a higher recurrence-free survival rate.

A Comparison of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Wide Local Excision for Treatment of Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans With Long-Term Follow-up: The Mayo Clinic Experience.

BACKGROUND: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a soft tissue tumor with slow infiltrative growth and local recurrence if inadequately excised. OBJECTIVE: To compare long-term outcomes after Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) and wide local excision (WLE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of patients with DFSP surgically treated with WLE or MMS from January 1955 through March 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Mean follow-up for patients treated with MMS (n = 67) and WLE (n = 91) was 4.8 and 5.7 years, respectively. Twenty-eight patients (30.8%) with WLE had recurrence (mean, 4.4 years), whereas only 2 (3.0%) with MMS had recurrence (1.0 and 2.6 years). Recurrence-free survival rates at 1, 5, 10, and 15 years were significantly higher with MMS (p < .001). Mean preoperative lesion sizes were similar (5-6 cm) between the 2 groups, whereas mean (standard deviation) postoperative defect sizes were 10.7 (4.3) cm and 8.8 (5.5) cm for WLE and MMS, respectively (p = .004). Primary closure was used for 73% of MMS cases, whereas WLE more commonly used flaps, grafts, or other closures (52%). Two Mohs layers typically were required for margin control. CONCLUSION: Surgical excision with meticulous histologic evaluation of all surgical margins is needed for DFSP treatment to achieve long-term high cure rates and low morbidity.

Patient Satisfaction and Quality of Life Following Surgery for Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a progressive, recurrent inflammatory disorder. OBJECTIVE: To assess long-term satisfaction and postoperative perceptions among patients who underwent surgical management of HS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to 499 HS surgical patients to assess surgical outcome, satisfaction, and quality of life. RESULTS: Of the 499 questionnaires mailed, 113 were returned (22.6% response rate) and 2 were excluded for redundancy. Of the 111 respondents, 65 (58.6%) were female, 91 (82.0%) had Hurley Stage III disease, 88 (79.3%) were treated with excision and 23 (20.7%) with unroofing, 45 (40.5%) had perianal or perineal disease, and 41 (36.9%) had axillary disease. Most patients were satisfied or very satisfied with their surgical results (84.7%; 94 of 111), were glad they underwent surgery (96.3%; 105 of 109), and would recommend surgery to a friend or relative (82.6%; 90 of 109). Most patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the appearance of their healed wound (62.4%; 68 of 109). Retrospective mean quality of life increased significantly from 5 preoperatively to 8.4 postoperatively (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Hidradenitis suppurativa surgical management was well regarded by patients and should be considered by future patients to limit the morbidity of HS.

Comparison of Sterile vs Nonsterile Gloves in Cutaneous Surgery and Common Outpatient Dental Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

IMPORTANCE: Whether the use of sterile vs nonsterile gloves in outpatient cutaneous procedures affects the rate of postoperative wound infection is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To explore rates of surgical site infection (SSI) with the use of sterile vs nonsterile gloves in outpatient cutaneous surgical procedures. DATA SOURCES: This systematic review and meta-analysis identified studies from Ovid MEDLINE (1946 to present), Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (1991 to present), Ovid EMBASE (1988 to present), EBSCO Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (1980 to present), Scopus (1996 to present), and Web of Science (1975 to present). STUDY SELECTION: Studies with information on sterile vs nonsterile gloves in outpatient surgical procedures were retrieved. Only randomized clinical trials and comparative studies were included for final analysis. DATA EXTRACTION: Data of trial design, surgery characteristics, and outcomes from published manuscripts and unpublished data were independently extracted. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Randomized clinical trials were considered high quality if randomization, allocation concealment, blinding, and follow-up completeness were appropriate. Relative risk and 95% CIs were derived for postoperative wound infections. RESULTS: Fourteen articles met eligibility and inclusion criteria for systematic review; they included 12 275 unique patients who had undergone 12 275 unique outpatient procedures with sterile or nonsterile gloves and had follow-up regarding SSI. With the exclusion of 1 single-arm observational study of 1204 patients, 11 071 patients from 13 studies remained in the meta-analysis. Of these, 228 patients were documented as having postoperative SSI (2.1%), including 107 of 5031 patients in the nonsterile glove group (2.1%) and 121 of 6040 patients in the sterile glove group (2.0%). Overall relative risk for SSI with nonsterile glove use was 1.06 (95% CI, 0.81-1.39). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: No difference was found in the rate of postoperative SSI between outpatient surgical procedures performed with sterile vs nonsterile gloves.

Surgical Management of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Outcomes of 590 Consecutive Patients.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a progressive, recurrent inflammatory disease. Surgical management is potentially curative with limited efficacy data. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate hidradenitis surgical patients. METHODS: Retrospective review of outcomes of 590 consecutive surgically treated patients. RESULTS: Most patients were white (91.0% [435/478]), men (337 [57.1%]), smokers (57.7% [297/515]) with Hurley Stage III disease (476 [80.7%]). Procedure types were excision (405 [68.6%]), unroofing (168 [28.5%]), and drainage (17 [2.9%]) treating disease of perianal/perineum (294 [49.8%]), axilla (124 [21.0%]), gluteal cleft (76 [12.9%]), inframammary (12 [2.0%]), and multiple surgical sites (84 [14.2%]). Postoperative complications occurred in 15 patients (2.5%) and one-fourth (144 [24.4%]) suffered postoperative recurrence, which necessitated reoperation in one-tenth (69 [11.7%]) of patients. Recurrence risk was increased by younger age (hazard ratio [HR], 0.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7-0.9), multiple surgical sites (HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.5), and drainage-type procedures (HR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.2-10.7). Operative location, disease severity, gender, and operative extent did not influence recurrence rate. CONCLUSION: Excision and unroofing procedures were effective treatments with infrequent complications and low recurrence rates. Well-planned surgical treatment aiming to remove or unroof the area of intractable hidradenitis suppurativa was highly effective in the management of this challenging disease.