The Role of Biosurgical Agents in Dermatologic Surgery

Performed in an outpatient, office-based setting, dermatologic surgery reduces healthcare costs of hospitalization while maintaining low rates of surgical complications such as infection, dehiscence, and hematoma formation. However, the potential for complications requiring hospitalization or IV antibiotic therapy still exists and varies depending on patient risk factors, such as the use of antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications. Furthermore, measured outcomes in dermatologic surgery expand beyond surgical wound complications to include optimization of wound healing and reduction of scar formation, especially in cosmetically sensitive areas of the body. Biosurgical agents are increasingly being used in surgical fields to achieve hemostasis and to optimize wound healing. This chapter reviews the typical methods to achieve hemostasis in dermatologic surgery and examines the current and future role of biosurgical agents in procedural dermatology.