Polidocanol sclerotherapy in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Teleangiectasia
patients – outpatient and emergency visits in a retrospective view
Abstract
ABSTRACT INTRUDUCTION: Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) is an
inherited condition causing mucosal telangiectasia and visceral
arteriovenous malformations. Troublesome nosebleeds affect almost all
HHT patients. Different treatments to control nosebleeds have been
applied, but no clear consensus exists on the most effective one.
Sclerotherapy with polidocanol is one option and previous studies have
reported promising results. However, no data on the effect of
sclerotherapy on epistaxis-related visits and procedures exists. The aim
of our study was to investigate the impact of polidocanol sclerotherapy
on epistaxis-related emergency department and outpatient visits and
emergency procedures in HHT patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We
retrospectively collected data on Helsinki University Hospital’s
HHT-patients receiving polidocanol sclerotherapy. We analyzed the number
of outpatient and emergency department visits in our Otorhinolaryngology
unit as well as measures to control the nosebleeds, especially emergency
operating room procedures. We compared the number of visits and
procedures before and after initiating polidocanol sclerotherapy.
RESULTS: Of the 145 HHT patients identified, 29 HHT patients received
polidocanol sclerotherapy in our unit and had sufficient follow-up data.
The number of emergency department visits on average per year increased
from 0.21 to 0.32 and the number of outpatient visits changed from 1.30
to 1.64 after initiation of sclerotherapy. No statistically significant
changes were observed. Emergency operating room procedures were not
observed during the study period in this patient group. CONCLUSION:
Previous studies have shown sclerotherapy to decrease the severity of
nosebleeds in HHT patients. However, we did not observe changes in the
numbers of epistaxis-related visits before and after initiation
sclerotherapy. More studies are needed to assess the efficacy of
sclerotherapy for HHT-related nosebleeds. Keywords: osler, epistaxis,
nose bleed, injection, lauromacrogol