Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 26, 2026
Laparoscopic Anatomical Right Hemihepatectomy via the In Situ Anterior Approach
Published on: August 8, 2025
Treatment of complex infantile haemangioma in a resource-poor setting
Ronald Natawidjaja1, Ewen Wang2
1Alam Sehat Lestari Clinic, West Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia.
Insights
Infantile haemangiomas, common vascular birthmarks, can cause serious complications. This case study shows oral propranolol effectively treated a severe infantile haemangioma in a resource-poor setting, resolving disfigurement and breathing issues.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Dermatology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Infantile haemangiomas (IHs) are common benign vascular tumors affecting up to 5% of infants.
- While most IHs resolve spontaneously, complex cases can lead to significant disfigurement or life-threatening complications.
- IHs are often misperceived as surgical issues, delaying appropriate medical management.
Observation:
- A case is presented of an infant in rural Indonesia with extensive facial IHs and suspected airway involvement causing stridor.
- The infant presented with cosmetic disfigurement and respiratory distress.
- The patient was from a resource-limited environment, highlighting access to care challenges.
Findings:
- Treatment with oral propranolol resulted in significant regression of the cutaneous infantile haemangioma.
- The infant's stridor resolved, indicating successful management of the airway haemangioma.
- Propranolol administration also led to improved weight gain in the infant.
Implications:
- Oral propranolol is an effective and accessible treatment for complex infantile haemangiomas, even in resource-poor settings.
- This case underscores the importance of early medical intervention for IHs, particularly those with airway compromise.
- Expanding access to propranolol treatment can improve outcomes for infants with severe infantile haemangiomas globally.
Abstract:
Infantile haemangiomas affect approximately 5% of the population and usually do not require treatment. However, complex cutaneous haemangiomas can cause disabling disfigurement, while haemangiomas in the brain, airway or gastrointestinal tract can cause life-threatening complications. Although children with infantile haemangiomas are often first brought to general practitioners and paediatricians by parents for care, they are thought of as a surgical problem and usually referred to specialty care. We present a case of an infant from a resource-poor setting in rural Indonesia with disfiguring facial haemangiomas, as well as a probable airway haemangioma causing stridor at rest. The infant was treated with oral propranolol with marked involution of the cutaneous haemangioma, resolution of stridor and increase in weight.
