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.