title: Treatment of oral vascular anomalies by transfixion technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular anomalies (hemangiomas and vascular malformations) are frequently located in the oral cavity. They can be treated by cool steel surgery, cryotherapy, laser therapy, embolization, and sclerosis. The choice of treatment should depend on the type of vascular anomaly, its site, the general condition of the patient, and the doctor's experience.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this article is to assess the usefulness, indications, and advantages of transfixion technique in the treatment of oral vascular lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present seven patients with various vascular anomalies in the oral cavity that were treated using transfixion technique. This procedure is performed with local infiltration anesthesia and it consists of interlacing a polyglycolic acid suture a number of times in an upward direction until the vascular anomaly becomes bloodless.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all seven patients we completely eliminated the vascular lesion without significant long-term complications. We detected a transitory retractil scar in only one patient and edema in the postoperative period in another one.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of vascular anomalies of the oral cavity by transfixion technique is an effective, simple method that does not cause major complications and is low in cost.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Clinic of Navarra, School of Medicine, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Doval
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Vicente
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000098:blood supply*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013536:Suture Techniques