Why are there differences in the perceived safety of office-based surgery?

BACKGROUND

Office-based surgery has become an important method of health-care delivery, but there is controversy about its safety and which practitioners should perform it. Several states have already or are preparing to enact legislation regulating office-based surgery.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to discuss recent literature pertaining to the safety of office surgery and to discuss reasons why there are perceived differences in its safety.

METHODS

The pertinent literature is reviewed. Results. The majority of studies suggest that office surgery is safe. A recent study that found to the contrary may have methodologic flaws.

CONCLUSION

The medical and legislative community should seek to scientifically examine office surgery. Overregulation or loss of office surgery would have a tremendous impact on the management of skin cancers and the delivery of quality cosmetic and laser surgery.