title: Treatment of epistaxis in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia patients by argon plasma coagulation with local anesthesia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recurrent epistaxis is the most common manifestation of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). The aim of this study was to determine the role and efficacy of argon plasma coagulation (APC) in the management of epistaxis caused by HHT.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1997 to 2004, 43 patients with diagnosed HHT were treated for recurrent epistaxis with APC in our department.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-six patients reported substantial reduction of bleeding after treatment. Of the 18 patients who previously needed blood transfusions, 13 reported substantial reduction of bleeding after treatment and no blood transfusions were necessary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  APC allows a control of epistaxis in HHT patients and guarantees a long time free from blood transfusions. This treatment modality can be performed with local anesthesia, is not invasive, is well tolerated, is inexpensive, and can be used as a first step even in patients who need to undergo several blood transfusions for their epistaxis.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Otorinolaringoiatrica, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Università di Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pagella
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Semino
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olivieri
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corno
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dore
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Draghi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lanzarini
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vespro
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buscarini
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Danesino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D001128:Argon / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013683:Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001128:Argon