Expert Care for Your Child’s Unique Needs
Arun K. Gosain, MD, Chief, Pediatric Plastic Surgery, Director, Vascular Anomalies Clinic, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital
When a child develops a vascular anomaly, it can range from a small birthmark to one that can cover a large portion of the body. These abnormalities include port wine stains, hemangiomas or more complex lesions involving the underlying blood vessels. Because these conditions may prove challenging to diagnose and treat, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital created the Vascular Anomalies Clinic, the only program in the region to provide comprehensive care for children with complex vascular conditions.
“Our multidisciplinary approach ensures the best possible outcomes by merging the knowledge of physicians from different backgrounds. This assists in the planning of optimal treatment so that each child receives the individualized care needed to manage these complicated disorders,” says Arun K. Gosain, MD, Chief of Pediatric Plastic Surgery and Director of the Vascular Anomalies Clinic.
Joan Tamburro, DO, Director, Pediatric Dermatology, Vascular Anomalies Clinic, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital
“Vascular anomalies affect each child differently. Our team of specialists works together in one location to tailor a plan that is customized to suit his or her unique needs,” adds Joan Tamburro, DO, Director of Pediatric Dermatology at the Vascular Anomalies Clinic.
Team Work Works Best
Children of all ages, from newborns to teens, are evaluated at the Vascular Anomalies Clinic for a broad range of vascular conditions, including hemangiomas and vascular malformations.
The program delivers state-of-the-art care that is appropriate for each child’s particular anomaly through an eclectic team of experts and board- certified pediatric specialists in plastic surgery, dermatology, interventional radiology, ophthalmology, hematology/oncology, pathology and otolaryngology.
For children who have additional medical issues, the team integrates services to develop a truly personalized plan of care. For example, an infant with a hemangioma on his or her nose that interferes with breathing may require the expertise of specialists in pediatric plastic surgery, otolaryngology and dermatology.
Treatment Options
To eliminate or reduce vascular anomalies, the Vascular Anomalies Clinic team uses the latest medical treatments available, including laser therapy, drug therapy, embolization, sclerotherapy (shrinking blood vessels), surgery or
a combination of any of these therapies. Some children may require multiple treatments to effectively address their condition, while others may need a single surgery to complete their medical care.
Lifelong Benefits
Vascular anomalies may appear at birth or arise later in a child’s life. After all treatments have been completed, patients are thoroughly evaluated during annual follow-up appointments. During these visits, the Vascular Anomalies Clinic team often notices a positive change in the attitudes and optimism of children and families, and a sense of gratefulness for the intervention of UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital’s dedicated pediatric specialists.
“Vascular anomalies may cause major facial deformities or malformations, so the successful treatments that we deliver prove life-changing for many children,” says Dr. Tamburro. “This program exists to provide the advanced services that kids with vascular conditions need to really thrive.”