309 Does Anaesthetic Type Effect Positive Excision Margin Rate for Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers?

Abstract

Abstract Aim Australia has the highest incidence of Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) in the world estimated to be 2448/100,000 population with the state of Queensland carrying the highest burden. Surgical excision is the primary treatment and makes up a large proportion of general surgical lists in regional Queensland where they are typically removed using either local anaesthetic (LA) alone, local anaesthetic and sedation (LAS), or general anaesthesia (GA). There is little in the literature to suggest if anaesthetic type effects the rate of involved margins. The purpose of this study is to establish if anaesthetic type impacts the rate of positive excision margins in regional hospitals in Queensland. Method A retrospective audit was performed, incorporating a total of 194 squamous and basal cell carcinoma lesions excised between October 2019 and October 2020 at two hospitals in regional Australia. Data was recorded for the type of anaesthetic used and the histopathology of the lesions including type of lesion and microscopic margin involvement. Results Of the 194 excised lesions 39 of them had involved margins (20.1%). The rate of involved margins under LA, GA and LAS were found to be 19.79%, 18.52% and 22.73% respectively. When comparing these modalities with each other: LA vs GA, LAS vs GA and LA vs LAS no significant difference was found in involved margins for excision of NMSC with p-values (<0.05) of 1, 0.624 and 0.8225 respectively. Conclusions Modality of anaesthetic used for excision of NMSC does not affect the outcome of margin involvement.