title: Patient satisfaction after sclerotherapy of venous malformations in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have introduced and performed percutaneous sclerotherapy on pediatric patients, and information regarding the mid- and long-term results after percutaneous treatment of peripheral venous malformations is necessary to counsel patients and their parents about the outcome of the therapy. This study was designed to retrospectively evaluate the long-term satisfaction of pediatric patients following percutaneous sclerotherapy for venous malformations (VMs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 53 children younger than 16 years of age with VMs who underwent sclerotherapy were included in this study. Self-assessment questionnaires regarding the treatment effectiveness and patients' satisfaction were sent to 50 of 53 patients. Sclerotherapy was performed using 3% polidocanol, absolute ethanol, or 5% ethanolamine oleate (EO).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median numbers of sessions per patient was 2.0 (range, 1-12), and the median follow-up time was 1.8 years (range, 6months-8.3years). Forty-two patients (84%) returned the questionnaire. The most frequent symptom was swelling (95%, 40/42) before sclerotherapy. After treatment, patients felt less pain (82%, 23/28), functional limitation (78%, 14/18), swelling (70%, 28/40), and cosmetic disfigurement (59%, 13/22). None of the patients responded "worse" for any symptoms, and 30 patients (71%) reported being "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous sclerotherapy of VMs was safe and effective for relieving symptoms in our pediatric patients, and many of them were satisfied with the outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatric Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kengo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakahata
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatric Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uehara
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatric Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zenitani
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Keigo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Osuga
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatric Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroomi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okuyama
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010690:Phlebography; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014680:Veins / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols
keywords: pediatric intervention; peripheral venous malformations; questionnaire; radiology; satisfaction