Pulsed dye laser treatment of port-wine stains: a review of patients treated in Western Australia.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of the flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser in the treatment of port-wine stains.


METHODS
A retrospective review of medical records and patients.


METHODS
Royal Perth Hospital (a tertiary referral hospital), August 1989 to December 1992.


METHODS
186 consecutive patients with port-wine stains treated with a flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser.


METHODS
Degree of lesion fading; adverse reactions.


RESULTS
Of 131 patients who completed treatment, 78% had better than 50% fading of the lesion and only 9% had less than 25% fading. An average 3.4 treatments were needed to achieve more than 50% fading. The response was better in children than in adults, although the difference was not significant. Anaesthesia was needed for 44% of patients. Pigmentary change (usually transient) occurred in 6.1% of patients and permanent and signficiant adverse effects in only 4.6%.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the efficacy of the flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser in the treatment of port-wine stains in children and adults. Early treatment of port-wine stains should be encouraged to reduce the physical and psychological morbidity of disfiguring lesions.
Tan
E
E
Department of Dermatology, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA.
Vinciullo
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012868:Skin Abnormalities; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014904:Western Australia