title: Management of vascular malformations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Even though vascular malformations are well categorized, further details are relatively unknown. Of treated patients regarding the frequency, demographic distributions, and other related factors by multivariate regression analyses in proportion to total vascular malformations, methods of treatment and how to manage them have not been elucidated thoroughly.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2006 to March 2012, consecutively treated patients with vascular anomalies were included in this investigation at least 1-year follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total of 123 cases, 86 females and 37 males, the mean follow-up was 3.5 ± 1.68 years, and the frequency of treatment was 1-8 times (1.8 ± 1.30). Surgery was performed for 22 cases (17.9%) of venous malformations and arteriovenous malformations. In multivariate regression, the frequency of treatment was significantly correlated with the length of follow-up (P < 0.001), age (P < 0.05), and type of malformations (P < 0.05) (R (2) = 0.18). Need for surgery was significantly increased with age at odds ratio (OR) of 1.06 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-1.80] (P < 0.001), and head/face/neck, and upper limb are more performed at OR of 0.24 (95% CI, 0.07-0.85) (P < 0.05). The satisfaction score varied from 1 to 5 (3.9 ± 0.68). Complications occurred in 3 cases (2.4%). In logistic regression of complications, the OR of the satisfaction score was 0.13 (95% CI, 0.02-0.80) (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of vascular malformations is an integral part of multidisciplinary approaches. Venous malformations are more frequent in combination surgery, and if there are fewer complications, the patients' satisfaction increases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Sadanori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akita
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Houbara
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiyoshi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hirano