Long-term complications of septal dermoplasty in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.
OBJECTIVE
Septal dermoplasty has been recommended as the treatment of choice for life-threatening epistaxis in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. This study evaluates the complications of septal dermoplasty in the management of transfusion-dependent epistaxis.


METHODS
Consecutive retrospective study.


METHODS
Between 1994 and 2006, septal dermoplasty was performed on 106 consecutive patients with transfusion dependent epistaxis. Of 103 potential patients, 37 either died or were lost to follow-up, which left 66 patients for study. Data on complications and quality of life were collected on 50 (76%) of 66 patients (mean follow-up, 3.75 years) via phone interview.


RESULTS
Seventy-eight percent experienced nasal odor; 72% had nasal crusting; 58% had decreased sense of smell; 30% noted worsened sinus infection; 88% could breathe through their nose; 86% stated improved quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Septal dermoplasty remains an effective way of treating transfusion dependent epistaxis in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and subjectively improves their quality of life.
Levine
Corinna G
CG
Section of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8041, USA.
Ross
Douglas A
DA
Henderson
Katharine J
KJ
Leder
Steven B
SB
White
Robert I
RI
D000368:Aged; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013683:Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors