Outpatient Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Excision and Reconstruction: A Clinical, Economical, and Patient Perception Analysis

Abstract

Background: Nonmelanoma skin cancers constitute more than 15% of all types of cancer. To obtain the best cosmetic outcome, local flaps represent the ideal surgical choice. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients treated from 2016 to 2019. The day-surgery group included 73 patients, and the outpatient group included 70 patients. We analyzed medical records regarding age of diagnosis, waiting time, site of lesion, reconstructive technique, histologic diagnosis, radicality of excision, and complications. We administered a survey based on quality items and carried out an economic evaluation. Results: Outpatient removals were radical 92.6% of the time against the 78% of those performed in the operating room (P = 0.14). We observed two cases of wound dehiscence and two cases of hematoma in the day-surgery group. Economic analysis showed reduced costs in the outpatient setting. Conclusion: Skin excision and local flap reconstruction are safe procedures in an outpatient setting under a clinical, economical, and patient perception point of view.