A five-year audit of the treatment of extensive anogenital warts by day case electrosurgery under general anaesthesia

Abstract

A retrospective five-year audit of patients with extensive anogenital warts (AGW) treated by day case electrosurgery was undertaken to determine clearance rates and recurrence rates. Published studies using these treatment modalities are few and most involve small numbers of patients. We present a series of 213 patients. One hundred and seventy-six patients underwent single procedures, 35 underwent repeat procedures and two (1%) spontaneously cleared before surgery. The outcome was known in 137 patients. Sixty-five (57%) of the single procedures, 18 (78%) of the repeat procedures and 83 (61%, {95% confidence interval [CI] 52.4-68.8%}) of the whole sample were clear by three months. Recurrence rates were 27 (24%), six (23%) and 33 (24%, {95 CI 16.9-31.2%}) respectively. These figures appear to be consistent with published data using electrocautery and surgical/scissor excision. There was a higher prevalence of smokers (compared to general population) but there was no difference in outcome between smokers and non-smokers.