A retrospective study of the role of the argon laser in the management of epistaxis secondary to hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Epistaxis is a common symptom in patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia. It may vary in severity from infrequent mild bleeds to regular severe bleeding, the latter requiring multiple blood transfusions. Laser, which can be used to coagulate the telangiectasia without destroying the overlying nasal mucosa, would theoretically seem to be the ideal mode of treatment. In this pilot study, an argon laser has been used on nineteen patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia and is shown to be beneficial in patients with mild or moderate epistaxis. Patients with severe epistaxis, or who fail argon laser treatment, are candidates for alternative therapeutic strategies such as a modified Young's procedure.