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Strangling technique to treat large cervicofacial venous malformations: A preliminary report
Author(s) -
Colletti Giacomo,
Colombo Valeria,
Mattassi Raul,
Frigerio Alice
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.23585
Subject(s) - medicine , venous malformation , surgery , sclerotherapy , periosteum , head and neck , lesion , decompression
Background Surgical removal of large cervicofacial venous malformations might be hampered by massive intraoperative bleeding. Moreover, these lesions often insinuate within normal surrounding tissue, making complete resection impossible without causing significant morbidity. Methods Two patients affected by facial venous malformations nonresponsive to sclerotherapy underwent surgery. Bleeding and critical branching of the facial nerve within the lesion prevented the surgeons from proceeding with the removal. The unresectable malformation was decompressed by means of a number of nonresorbable stitches from the surface of the lesion to the periosteum, tailoring a permanent pressure dressing. Results Outcomes at 12‐month follow‐up were stable, with good cosmetic results and satisfaction reported by both patients. No long‐term side effects related to the procedure were observed. Conclusion Decompression of large venous malformations by means of a strangling technique might represent a safe and effective procedure for those cases where a removal cannot be accomplished. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck , 36: E94–E98, 2014