VASCULAR MALFORMATION
Vascular malformation is a general term that includes congenital vascular anomalies of:
- Only veins: Venous malformations (VM)
- Only lymph vessels: Lymphatic malformations (LM)
- Both veins and lymph vessels: Venolymphatic malformations (VLM)
- Arteries connected directly to veins without any capillaries in between: Arteriovenous malformations (AVM)
SYMPTOMS OF VASCULAR MALFORMATION
VENOUS MALFORMATIONS:
- Cause pain wherever they are located.
- Venous and lymphatic malformations can cause lumps under the skin.
- Bleeding or lymph fluid leaking can occur from skin lesions
- Lymphatic malformations can become infected.
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ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATIONS
- Pain
- More stressful on the heart because of rapid shunting of blood from arteries and veins
- Depending on location can result in bleeding (from bowels, uterus or from bladder)
HEMANGIOMAS
This applies to a childhood vascular anomaly that has a rapid growth between birth and 3 months of age.
DIAGNOSIS OF VASCULAR MALFORMATIONS
- Ultrasound
- MRI
- Angiography
TREATMENT OF VASCULAR MALFORMATIONS
Surgical :
- Though useful, it is usually difficult for the surgeon to completely remove the vascular malformations, which will return if not completely removed.
- Reconstruction may be used in conjunction with other treatments.
Non Surgical :
- The Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs) and haemangioma can be closed by advancing tiny plastic tubing into the feeding artery to the malformation without any incisions or stitches under mild sedation. Medical glue or alcohol or small beads are then floated into the malformation until it is full and no longer has blood flowing through it.
- Vascular malformations are treated by embolization.
- The Venous Malformations (VMs) and Lymphatic Malformations (LMs) are closed by injecting alcohol into the sacs filled with venous blood or lymph till the sacs collapse or no longer fill.
RECURRENCE
- The AVM’s and LM if found large and extensive have chances of recurrence which need to be discussed with your surgeon.