Marked acute tissue swelling following percutaneous sclerosis of low-flow vascular malformations: a predictor of both prolonged recovery and therapeutic effect

Purpose. To evaluate the significance of marked, acute swelling in patients after percutaneous sclerosis of low-flow vascular malformations, as a predictor of both prolonged recovery and likelihood of therapeutic effect.¶Materials and methods. In 22 patients who underwent percutaneous ethanol sclerosis of low-flow vascular malformations, we compared the incidence of prolonged recovery and lasting therapeutic effect between those patients with and without marked soft-tissue swelling following the procedure.¶Results. Five patients exhibited marked swelling after sclerosis. Four of these five had causes of prolonged recovery. These four recovered and all five eventually had marked therapeutic effect. Seventeen patients did not meet criteria for severe swelling. Only one of these patients had prolonged recovery. Eighteen of the 22 total patients had therapeutic effect. All 4 of the 22 total patients who had no therapeutic effect were in the group without marked swelling.¶Conclusions. Marked soft-tissue swelling, which occurs after percutaneous sclerosis of vascular malformations, is both a predictor of prolonged recovery and high likelihood of therapeutic effect.