Head and Neck Low Flow Vascular Lesions Treated with Corseting Technique

Abstract

Head and neck vascular lesions management has been a great challenge to the surgeons due to catastrophic bleeding that obscures the visibility during the surgery. A proposed surgical technique called CORSET SUTURING for the treatment of non cutaneous low-flow vascular malformations in the head and neck region minimizes the blood loss and facial disfigurement. Corset sutures are placed to strangulate the lesion and restore the facial symmetry with the least amount of comorbidities. The aim of the present study is to describe the clinical characteristics of patients treated by corset suturing technique, material used and surgical morbidity, in order to contribute to a better understanding of this technique. Medical records and images of 15 patients treated by the same corset suturing protocol were retrieved and analysed. The indications, advantages and disadvantages, technique and complications observed are discussed. There was a significant reduction in the bulkiness of tumour mass noted and also a return of the regional facial outline was evident. In conclusion, corset suturing has an important role in management of diffuse low-flow vascular malformations of the head and neck as it is found to be a simple, cost-effective, less scarring and acceptable method, hence can be considered as an alternative to the other expensive methods such as embolization, with least surgical comorbidities.