Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-2xdlg Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-23T08:01:44.265Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A natural obturator in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2017

A Soni-Jaiswal*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Manchester Royal Infirmary, UK
T J Woolford
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Manchester Royal Infirmary, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Miss A Soni-Jaiswal, Apt 5, 22 Larke Rise, Didsbury, Manchester M20 2UL, UK. Fax: 01614348051 E-mail: archanasj@gmail.com

Abstract

Objective:

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.

Case report:

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.

Conclusion:

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.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Sutton, HG. Epistaxis as an indicator of impaired nutrition and degeneration of the vascular system. Medical Mirror 1864;1:769–71Google Scholar
2 Guttmacher, AE, Marchuk, DA, White, RI. Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia. N Engl J Med 1995;333:918–24CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3 Cotran, RS, Vinay, K, Collins, T. ‘Robbins’ Pathologic Basis of Disease 5th Edition. Published by W.B. Saunders Company, A Division of Harcourt Brace & Company, Philadelphia 1999;531–2Google Scholar
4 Soriano, PA, Petros, J, Mckinsey, JF. Osler-Weber-Rendu Disease. ‘emedicine from WebMD’ http://emedicine.mediscape.com/article, updated 15th December 2008Google Scholar
5 Marchuk, DA. The molecular genetics of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Chest June 1997;111:79S82SCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6 Saunders, WH. Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: Its familial pattern, clinical characteristics, and surgical treatment. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surgery 1962;76:245–60CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7 Ross, D, Jassin, B. Current trends in the diagnosis and management of Osler Weber Rendu disease. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1997;5:191–6CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8 Lund, V, Howard, DJ. Closure of the nasal cavities in the treatment of refractory hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia. J Laryngol Otol 1997;111:30–3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9 Gluckman, JL, Portugal, LG. Modified Young's procedure for refractory epistaxis due to hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia. Laryngoscope 1994;104:1174–7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10 Woolford, TJ, Loke, D, Bateman, ND. The use of a nasal obturator in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia: an alternative to Young's procedure. J Laryngol Otol 2002;116:455–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11 Young, A. Closure of the nostrils in atrophic rhinitis. J Laryngol Otol 1967;81:515–24CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed