American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
Volume 32, Issue 4 , Pages 301-303, July 2011

A silicone nasal swab for the treatment of severe and recalcitrant epistaxis in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: an alternative to surgical nostril closure☆☆☆

  • Luca Bruschini, MD
    • ,
  • Veronica Seccia, MD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. First ENT Unit, Head and Neck Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Via Paradisa, 3, 56100 Pisa, Italy. Tel.: +39 050997501; fax: +39 050997496.
    • ,
  • Iacopo Dallan, MD

Received 29 April 2010 published online 19 August 2010.

Abstract 

Background

Epistaxis is the most common symptom in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). In severely affected cases, cessation of the nasal airflow seems to be the only long-term effective treatment. Such procedure deeply affects patient's quality of life (QoL) and is sometimes refused.

Methods

This study investigated the effectiveness of a tailored silicone nasal swab on 2 patients affected by HHT and severe epistaxis.

Results

In both cases, we observed a good clinical effect, with significant reduction of epistaxis and improved QoL.

Conclusions

Our preliminary results indicate that the silicone nasal swab can be considered an effective way of treating severe epistaxis in patients with HHT. Its advantages, in terms of maintained airflow patency, reversibility, and improved QoL, are highlighted.

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☆ Authorship contribution: Luca Bruschini: substantial contribution to conception and design, acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data; Veronica Seccia: drafting of article and critical revision for important intellectual content; Iacopo Dallan, substantial contribution to conception and design, acquisition, and analysis; drafting of article and critical revision for important intellectual content; and final approval.

☆☆ Conflict of interest statement: We state that all authors have seen and approved the manuscript “A silicone nasal swab for the treatment of severe and recalcitrant epistaxis in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: an alternative to surgical nostril closure”; that there is no conflict of interest; and that neither the submitted paper nor any similar paper, in whole or in part, other than an abstract or preliminary communication, has been or will be submitted to or published in any other printed or digital publication.

PII: S0196-0709(10)00096-7

doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2010.06.003

American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
Volume 32, Issue 4 , Pages 301-303, July 2011

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