Methodist Children's Hospital In San Antonio, TX Only Hospital In The U.S. Treating Rare Vascular Condition With Dual Wave-Length Laser
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Casen Buswell has a rare vascular condition that causes his blood vessels, skin and muscles to harden. His case is one of only 14 known cases of glomuvenous malformations plaque type (GVM) in the world. The only hospital in the United States, and one of only a few in the world, offering treatment with the dual wave-length laser, is Methodist Children's Hospital, a campus of Methodist Hospital in San Antonio. Using a laser available in South Texas only at the hospital, physicians and staff are giving Casen, 2 1/2, the chance to grow up and lead a fairly normal life.
GVM is caused by a missing glomulin gene that results in improperly formed veins in the layers of skin and deeper tissues. Casen's lesions are extensive, covering his chest, belly, arms, upper shoulders and back. As the skin hardens, it becomes extremely painful and debilitating. If left untreated, the condition can lead to heart failure.
Jenna Buswell and her husband faced many challenges—from misdiagnosis to unacceptable treatment options—in finding help for Casen. About nine weeks after Casen was born, the Buswells learned about the condition from a geneticist. A husband-and-wife doctor team in Belgium had identified the missing gene and were the only doctors in the world offering treatment. The couple was considering a move to Belgium from their home in Puyallup, Washington, when they learned that treatment was available in San Antonio.
John C. Browning, M.D., dermatologist, treats Casen at Methodist Children's Hospital using the Cynosure Multiplex Laser. The laser shrinks the blood vessels using heat and light.
"It was hard to find an answer," said Mrs. Buswell. "Dr. Browning has been amazing. As soon as we talked to him we knew that he understood the situation and was willing to work with us to find the best treatment. We knew we had to try. And, the staff at Methodist Children's Hospital has been awesome."
Methodist Children's Hospital, a facility of Methodist Hospital, opened in 1998 as the first hospital in South Texas designed and constructed especially for children. It is the pediatric hospital of choice for families in San Antonio and South Texas and is the largest provider of pediatric services west of Houston and south of Dallas. To learn more, visit www.MHSChildrens.com
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SOURCE Methodist Children's Hospital
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