Flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser treatment of vascular birthmarks

Before the availability of the flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser (FPDL), patients with vascular birthmarks were treated with lasers that had a significant risk of scarring. For more than a decade, such patients have had the choice of being treated with the FPDL, which is safe, effective, and has a low risk of scarring; however, not all vascular birthmarks are amenable to treatment with the FPDL. The laser surgeon must understand the classification and natural history of the various vascular birthmarks to select the most appropriate therapy for a given patient. This article reviews FPDL treatment of port wine stains and hemangiomas, as well as the nursing care required for the laser procedure.