Effectiveness of Intralesional Cautery in Treatment of Vascular Malformations

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate effectiveness of intralesional cautery in treatment of vascular malformations

Methodology: Descriptive case series study was conducted at Pak Italian Modern Burn Center /plastic surgery department, Nishtar Medical University Multan during a period from January 2020 to December 2020. A total of 20 patients were enrolled with vascular malformation involving head and neck region.The average follow-up period was 06 months after completion of a multisession treatment. Advanced diagnostic technology, mostly noninvasive, was used on all 20 patients with vascularmalformation.

Results: Majority of our study cases i.e. 18 (90%) reported with the venous vascular malformation followed by Arteriovenous malformation 02 (10%). Overall regression was better in venous malformations shown in six weeks and it was observed in 18 (90%) of the study cases.Arteriovenous malformations showed less regression with procedure and took three to four sessions (as compared to VM which took two sessions). Color matching was comparable to that of normal site in 18 (90%) of our study cases mostly seen in slow flow venous malformation, while Arteriovenous malformation showed less improvement 02 (10%) of our study cases. Normal healing was noted in 19 (95%) of our study cases while one (05%) oral vascular malformation case got burn wound near oral commissure.

Conclusion: Intralesional cautery technique for vascular malformation particularly venous one is a reliable, safe and versatile technique. It provides a good aesthetic outcome in terms of color matching, regression and scarring. It results in restoration of normal form and function in critically challenging areas like head and neck and pinna.