Sclerotherapy Versus Cautery/Laser Treatment for Epistaxis in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

Abstract

Objectives/Hypothesis Surgical interventions for epistaxis management in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) demonstrate short‐term success and require repeated procedures for disease control. Although electrocautery and/or laser photocoagulation (C ± L) are most frequently performed, sodium tetradecyl sclerotherapy (STS) is emerging as a promising newer treatment. We hypothesized that in a 24‐month time period, STS would require fewer treatments than C ± L to maintain epistaxis severity within the mild range. Study Design Retrospective study. Methods We retrospectively assessed 67 patients with HHT with moderate and severe epistaxis that were treated periodically with C ± L (34 patients) versus STS (33 patients). The primary outcome was the number of procedures needed to maintain the epistaxis severity score (ESS) as mild. Secondary outcomes assessed for differences in postoperative complications, hemoglobin levels, iron stores, hematologic support, and quality‐of‐life (QoL) scores. Results To maintain ESS in the mild range, 1.6 STS procedures (range, 1–4) were performed versus 3.6 C ± L procedures (range, 1–8) (P = .003). Significant postoperative differences included reduction in nasal crusting (3% vs. 32%, P = .001), foul odor (3% vs. 35%, P < .001), and septal perforation (3% vs. 29%, P = .006) after STS. There were no significant differences between the two treatments in hemoglobin levels, iron stores, hematologic support, or QoL scores. Conclusion STS is able to attain satisfactory epistaxis control with significantly fewer procedures and lower postoperative complications than C ± L. STS should be considered as the initial surgical intervention for epistaxis in patients with HHT. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 132:920–925, 2022

Injection of cyanoacrylate glue for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

“…Telangiectasias can be treated surgically by sclerotherapy with polidocanol 2 or sodium tetradecyl sulfate, 3 cauterized with bipolar or laser, 4 or treated by radiofrequency 5 . In patients with severe epistaxis, septodermoplasty or surgical nasal closure (Young's procedure) can be performed 6 …”