[Severe complications in the treatment of vascular anomalies]

Success in the treatment of vascular anomalies during infancy depends on an accurate early diagnosis and a correct therapeutic management. Current available resources can be divided into pharmacologic, endovascular, surgical, and laser. Results are variable, and complications should always be kept in mind.

We reviewed all patients with vascular anomalies who suffered from major complications directly due to the treatment during the past five years.

1. A patient with an upper lip hemangioma following treatment with interferon after no response to steroids. A long-term severe neutropoenia forced to an early surgical excision of the lesion. 2. A patient suffering from an orbitary hemangioma with severe exoftalmus was treated with interferon because of a steroid-resistance. A spastic diplegia due to interferon reverted after treatment was discontinued. 3. In a patient with a Blue-Rubber Bleb Nevus syndrome, extended percutaneous sclerosis was performed. She developed skin necrosis of the left leg and a permanent sciatic nerve paralysis. 4. In a patient with an arteriovenous malformation on the right leg and gluteous, a femoral artery endoprosthesis was placed because of a massive bleeding. She underwent a total excision of the malformation and developed a recurrent ischemia related to a femoral thrombosis. Finally a foot amputation was needed. 5. A patient with a Kaposi-like hemangio-endothelioma who was following a high-dose prolonged steroid therapy died because of a meningoencephalitis related to a severe immunosuppression.

Treatment of vascular anomalies during childhood need an early accurate diagnosis. If a right therapeutic sequence is not performed, useful drugs can turn into inefficient or dangerous. Most treatment complications in these patients can be avoided.