Abstract
Purpose :
Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a critical step in the stratification and treatment of facial and periorbital malignancies. Though this procedure has been shown to be safe when performed in a hospital setting, there is little data on the safety and efficacy of SLNB performed in ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). We performed a retrospective, clinical observational study to determine the feasibility of performing SLNBs in an ambulatory setting.
Methods :
We performed a retrospective review of 79 consecutive SLNB procedures performed at an academic tertiary referral hospital (46 cases) and ASCs (33 cases) associated with our institution between September 2014 and November 2022. Using two-sampled T tests and stepwise multivariate logistic regression, we compared demographic and clinical characteristics, operative wait time, operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), and rates of complication between procedures performed in the university hospital versus ambulatory settings.
Results :
Compared to patients who underwent SLNB in a hospital setting, patients at ASCs were younger (age 62 vs. 73, p < 0.001) and had better overall health as measured by the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ classification score (2.18 vs. 2.71, p < 0.001). On average, SLNB procedures performed at ASCs had significantly less EBL than those performed in the university hospital (11.48 mL vs 45.53 mL, P = 0.03), and were performed with significantly shorter operative time (73 vs 113 minutes, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in operative wait times. There were no complications associated with SLNB procedures performed in at ASCs.
Conclusions :
With no complications, less blood loss, and shorter operative times compared to SLNB performed in a hospital setting, SLNB procedures were shown to be safe and effective when performed at ambulatory surgical centers associated with our institution.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.