Reversible Cardiac Arrest After Polidocanol Sclerotherapy of Peripheral Venous Malformation

BACKGROUND: Polidocanol sclerotherapy is a well-established therapeutic modality for the treatment of venous malformations. Systemic complications are extremely rare. OBJECTIVE: To report a case of cardiac complication after polidocanol injection of peripheral venous malformation. METHODS: A case report and a review of the English language literature using a published MEDLINE search strategy. RESULTS: A patient undergoing polidocanol sclerotherapy for a symptomatic venous malformation of the right inferior limb developed cardiac arrest shortly after injection of the sclerosing agent which was promptly reversed. CONCLUSION: Systemic complications following sclerotherapy may occur even when the sclerosant is injected in peripheral veins or venous malformations. Clinicians should be alerted to the possibility of uncommon but life-threatening adverse effects.