Comparing the Efficacy of Local Anesthetics in Mohs Surgery

Mohs surgery is a very effective option in removing non-melanoma skin cancers, as the tissue being removed is analyzed the same day. If there are remnants of cancer cells in the tissue removed, the Mohs surgeon will go back and remove further tissue and repair the surgical wound all within the same day. Unfortunately, postoperative pain is quite prevalent among patients requiring Mohs procedures, as up to 52% require an additional oral pain medication. Lidocaine is the most commonly used anesthetic used in Mohs given its rapid onset of action. However, the duration of lidocaine's effect is much shorter than bupivacaine, which may translate into increased postoperative pain. To date, there are no specific studies comparing bupivacaine alone, lidocaine alone or both in conjunction in Mohs procedures. The investigators predict bupivacaine alone and bupivacaine used in conjunction with lidocaine are more effective in managing pain during Mohs surgery than lidocaine alone. To test our hypothesis, the investigators plan to have 105 patients receive either lidocaine alone, bupivacaine alone, or lidocaine and bupivacaine in conjunction during their Mohs procedure. Pain will be evaluated at various time points throughout the surgery.