Patients and study design
This was an observational, prospective and transversal study approved by
the local Research Ethics Committee (PI-5557). Paediatric patients
(younger than 18 years old) who presenting with focal skin lesions
and/or muscle involvement with slow flow on Doppler ultrasound were
considered to have VM by the expertise group of the Vascular Anomalies
Unit. All patients were included once parental representative had
provided signed informed consent.
Patients who had undergone recent treatment with possible haemostatic
modifiers, such as antiplatelets and anticoagulants, and those who had
experienced pain in the previous week were excluded from the study. All
procedures and actions were conducted in accordance with the World
Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki.