Baltimore — A relatively new registry of complications from dermatologic surgery has posted its first results, showing that among laser and energy device treatments, the most common adverse events were blistering, hypopigmentation, scars, and burns. But the process of reporting AEs to the registry needs to be made easier to attract more cases and provide a more complete picture of complications after dermatologic procedures, a researcher and observer said.
Of the 81 total cases, the following reports were related to laser and energy device treatments: 12 from nonablative laser treatments, five from light treatments, and three from ablative laser treatments, Koza said. For intense pulsed-light treatments, burns were the most common AEs , with swelling and inflammation each accounting for one case . Three of these cases were confirmed to have been performed by nonphysicians.
Koza acknowledged the low number of cases is a limitation of this analysis of registry reports. A future goal for CAPER is to publicize it more, he said."The registry is only 3 years old," he told."Hopefully, we can get more data as time goes on. We've been getting more and more each year." CAPER adapted data entry forms used in other registries.