A natural obturator in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia

Most patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia suffer with frequent episodes of epistaxis. The aim of this case report is to highlight the effect on epistaxis, occurring in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia, when nasal airflow ceases. We present the interesting case of a patient with...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of laryngology and otology 2009-06, Vol.123 (6), p.695-696
Main Authors: Soni-Jaiswal, A, Woolford, T J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Dermatology
Endoscopy
Epistaxis
Epistaxis - etiology
Epistaxis - prevention & control
Female
Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia
Humans
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Nasal Obstruction
Nasal Polyps
Non tumoral diseases
Nose
Olfaction disorders
Otolaryngology
Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology
Patients
Physiology
Polyps
Quality of life
Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic - complications
Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic - therapy
Trauma
Tumors
Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology
Vascular disorders of the skin
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Most patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia suffer with frequent episodes of epistaxis. The aim of this case report is to highlight the effect on epistaxis, occurring in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia, when nasal airflow ceases. We present the interesting case of a patient with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia who experienced cessation of her recurrent, refractory epistaxis through the development of coexisting polyp disease. The patient's enlarged, grade three nasal polyps were behaving as physiological obturators, limiting airflow through her nose. This reduced the intranasal trauma and subsequent frequency of her nosebleeds. Epistaxis is a debilitating part of hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia, and poses a frequent management challenge. Our patient was more tolerant of her grade three nasal polyps than of her recurrent epistaxis. This case highlights the importance of reducing nasal airflow when treating patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia.
ISSN:0022-2151
1748-5460
DOI:10.1017/S0022215109004964