Reliability and cost-effectiveness of complete lymph node dissection under tumescent local anaesthesia vs. general anaesthesia: a retrospective analysis in patients with malignant melanoma AJCC stage III.

BACKGROUND

Complete lymph node dissection (CLND) in melanoma patients with a positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) is currently being debated, as it is a cost-intensive surgical intervention with potentially high morbidity.

OBJECTIVE

This clinical study seeks to clarify the effectiveness, reliability and cost-effectiveness of CLND performed under tumescent local anaesthesia (TLA) compared with procedures under general anaesthesia (GA).

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed the data from 60 patients with primary malignant melanoma American Joint Committee on Cancer stage III who underwent CLND.

RESULTS

Altogether 26 (43.3%) patients underwent CLND under TLA and 34 (56.7%) patients underwent CLND under GA. Fifteen of 43 (34.9%) patients had a complication, such as development of seromas and/or wound infections. The rate of complications was 25.0% (3/12) in the axilla subgroup and 28.6% (4/14) in the groin subgroup of the TLA group. In the GA group, the complication rate was 31.3% (5/16) in the axilla subgroup and 44.4% (8/18) in the groin subgroup. The costs for CLND were significantly less for the CLND in a procedure room performed under TLA (mean €67.26) compared with CLND in an operating room under GA (mean €676.20, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, this study confirms that TLA is an excellent, safe, effective and cost-efficient alternative to GA for CLND in melanoma patients.