Complications of minor skin surgery performed under local anesthesia.
BACKGROUND
Minor surgical procedures performed under local anesthesia are the most common surgical procedures routinely carried out in every plastic surgical practice.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to evaluate the prevalence of immediate local and systemic complications of such procedures.


METHODS
Records of 2,600 procedures performed under local anesthesia on 2,431 patients between November 2001 and May 2004 were reviewed. Local anesthetic complications and all surgical-related complications were recorded.


RESULTS
Procedure-related complications were 51 presyncope (1.9%), 4 true syncope (0.16%), 2 minor burns (0.08%), and 1 facial laceration (0.04%).


CONCLUSIONS
True allergic reaction to lidocaine is extremely rare and none was noted in our study. Most patients who claimed that they had suffered from such a reaction were probably experiencing symptoms related to intravenous injection administration, a reaction to the added vasoconstrictor (adrenaline), or a vasovagal reaction, which is a common trait among young adults.
Shalom
Avshalom
A
Department of Plastic Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel. fredricag@asaf.health.gov.il
Westreich
Melvyn
M
Hadad
Eran
E
Friedman
Tal
T
D000328:Adult; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002056:Burns / Q000209:etiology; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013511:Minor Surgical Procedures; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology