Early surgical management of Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome in childhood can prevent long-term haemodynamic effects of distal venous hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the authors' preliminary experience in early surgical treatment of distal venous hypertension (DVH) in children affected by Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS).


METHODS
Clinical assessment, surgical management, and outcome of 29 children (18 girls, 11 boys) affected by KTS observed from October 1998 to October 2000 were reviewed retrospectively.


RESULTS
Patients ranged in age from 8 months to 17 years (median age at surgery, 10.3 years). The clinical findings are presented. Surgical treatments included stripping of persistent marginal vein (n = 16), multiple legation of bulky varicosities (n = 10), complementary sclerotherapy (n = 14) and laser photocoagulation (n = 13), and excision of associated lymphatic malformations (n = 5). No mortality or major postoperative morbidity occurred. Follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 2 years.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary results suggest that early surgical management of DVH in KTS is safe and could be effective in preventing or minimising the long-term haemodynamic effects of DVH in absence of associated deep venous system anomalies.
Baraldini
V
V
Milan, Italy.
Coletti
M
M
Cipolat
L
L
Santuari
D
D
Vercellio
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007715:Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D015911:Sclerotherapy; D014680:Veins / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D014690:Venous Pressure / Q000502:physiology*