title: Use of potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser Dermastat in the treatment of recurrent anterior epistaxis - a new technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the short- to medium-term effectiveness of potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser Dermastat in patients with recurrent anterior epistaxis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight patients presenting with recurrent anterior epistaxis were treated using potassium titanyl phosphate laser Dermastat. Those with recurrent epistaxis arising from prominent vessels in Little's area, and/or those for whom treatment with silver nitrate cautery failed, were included. The main outcome measure was resolution of epistaxis at two months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-eight patients were treated; 27 were under 18 years old. Thirty patients had prominent vessels. Thirty-one patients had undergone previous cautery treatment. Thirty-eight patients had treatment to the left side, 19 to the right and 1 to both. At two months, 74 per cent reported resolution of epistaxis with no complications. This increased to 78 per cent at further follow up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our technique is a successful, safe treatment for recurrent anterior epistaxis in an otherwise treatment-resistant group. A single procedure is effective. The handpiece and tip are reusable and sterilisable, resulting in cost-effectiveness.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust,UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Jain
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust,UK.
authors: S J
authors: SJ
authors: Frampton
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,People Tree Hospitals and Manipal Northside Hospital,Bengaluru,India.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Sachidananda
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust,UK.
authors: P K
authors: PK
authors: Jain
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D010710:Phosphates; D012008:Recurrence; D014025:Titanium; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; C064806:potassium titanylphosphate; D014025:Titanium
keywords: Epistaxis; Lasers; Light Coagulation; Solid State