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Polidocanol sclerotherapy in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Teleangiectasia patients – outpatient and emergency visits in a retrospective view
  • ELSA-LEEA KOTOLA,
  • Johanna Wikstén,
  • EEVA CASTRÉN
ELSA-LEEA KOTOLA
Helsinki University Press
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Johanna Wikstén
HUS-yhtyma

Corresponding Author:johanna.wiksten@hus.fi

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EEVA CASTRÉN
HUS-yhtyma
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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