Massive epistaxis from nasal CPAP therapy.
A 75-year-old man with obstructive sleep apnea and secondary right heart failure was started on nasal CPAP therapy. Shortly thereafter he experienced massive life-threatening epistaxis requiring nasal packing and hospitalization. The epistaxis was thought to be due to the drying effect of nasal CPAP.
Strumpf
D A
DA
Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence 02903.
Harrop
P
P
Dobbin
J
J
Millman
R P
RP
D000368:Aged; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000628:therapy