Treatment of peripheral vascular malformations – preliminary single-centre experience

Abstract

Introduction. Vascular malformations present a serious diagnostic and therapeutic problem of modern medicine. They occur in 1.5% of human population and are equally common in both sexes. The symptoms of vascular malformations are diverse and include cosmetic defects, tissue ulcerations, pain, oedema and functional disorders. Vascular malformations are treated with surgical procedures, techniques of interventional radiology, laser therapy or a combination of the methods mentioned above. Aim. To evaluate effectiveness of peripheral vascular malformations treatment with using endovascular techniques. Material and methods. Between 2009-2014, 46 therapeutic procedures were performed in patients with vascular malformations within the lower limbs, shoulder girdle and pelvis in the Department of Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, Medical University of Lublin. Various treatment techniques were used – procedures were carried out via arterial access (most commonly – 35/46), venous access (3/46) and by direct puncture of lesions (8/46). Results. The intended technical success was achieved in 82% of procedures; in some patients after several-stage embolisation and subsequent surgical resection. In 8 patients, further embolisation procedures will be performed due to a considerable extent of vascular malformation and its incomplete exclusion from circulation. Conclusions. Minimally invasive endovascular techniques enable effective treatment of vascular malformations; strict cooperation of a multi-disciplinary team of specialists, mainly interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, plastic surgeons and dermatologists, leads to best outcomes.