Contact endoscopy of the nose in patients with Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome

OBJECTIVE: Teleangiectases are the source of hemorrhage in many HHT patients. Most frequent site of bleeding is the nose and more than 90% of all individuals with HHT suffer from recurrent epistaxis. Despite all efforts, treatment of epistaxis in HHT continues to be a problem for many otorhinolaryngologists, who can alleviate recurrent nosebleeds by Septodermoplasty or laser therapy, but rarely can stop nasal hemorrhages permanently. Recurrence is almost inevitable, but the mechanisms of recurrence are not fully understood. METHODS: Prior to routine Nd:YAG laser therapy of nasal telangiectases the nasal mucosa of 17 patients with HHT according to the clinical diagnostic criteria of the HHT Foundation International was examined with a 0 degrees contact rhinoscope in areas with clinically visible telangiectases as well as in clinically normal mucosa. The digitally recorded images were compared to findings of a group of five healthy volunteers and the findings of five patients with polypoid sinusitis. RESULTS: Visualization of subepithelial vessels was feasible in all individuals of the study group as well as the control groups. Dilated vascular loops and tortuous vessels could be found in the study groups as well as in the control group, but the overall density of telangiectatic vessels was on an average higher in the HHT group. The process of vessel dilatation and tortuous configuration seemed to progress with age. CONCLUSION: Contact endoscopy allows the investigation of the angioarchitecture of capillaries of the nasal mucosa in vivo. This observation may be of significance for studies of nasal diseases, which are accompanied by epistaxis. With this regard it seems to be of special interest for studies of HHT.     

Nd:YAG激光与射频治疗鼻腔利特尔区出血的疗效比较

目的比较Nd:YAG激光与射频治疗鼻腔利特尔区出血的效果.方法576例鼻出血患者,Nd:YAG激光治疗390例,射频治疗186例,随访时间6～12个月.结果两组的治愈率分别是77.4%和95.2%(P＜0.05);治疗后需鼻腔填塞的比例分别是44.4%和12.9%(P＜0.05);需再次治疗比例分别是15.8%和6.5%(P＜0.05).两种治疗方法差异有显著性意义.结论在鼻出血治疗中,射频更方便有效.     

Nd:YAG laser treatment of the lower turbinates with contact in hyperreflexic and allergic rhinopathy]

BACKGROUND: Nasal obstruction caused by mucosal swelling due to hyperreflectory or allergic rhinitis is a very frequent disorder. We would like to report about our first results (ENT department, University of G?ttingen) in the reduction of hyperplastic inferior turbinates by Nd:YAG Laser treatment. PATIENTS AND METHOD: One hundred seventeen patients with nasal obstruction were treated by Nd:YAG laser between October 1993 and February 1997. We used the laser in "contact mode" and all outpatients were under local anaesthesia. Follow-up was possible in 83 cases. A subjective scale was used to evaluate our results. One quarter of the patients suffered from an allergic rhinitis. RESULTS: For 80% the nasal airflow was increased. Sixty percent had excellent or good results without any nasal obstruction after therapy. The patients with allergic rhinitis performed as well as the patients with hyperreflectory rhinopathy. This improvement appeared as early as four weeks after treatment and was permanent in 37 of 40 cases with long-term observation of at least one year. Side effects: 14% reported a dry nasal mucosa for two weeks; 31% had a bloody nasal secretion for two days after treatment, but did not bleed. Fifteen percent complained of pain during the procedure. CONCLUSION: The reduction of the inferior turbinates by Nd:YAG laser is an effective treatment of equal value in symptomatic therapy of the hyperplastic turbinates due to hyperreflectory and allergic rhinopathy. Seventy-three percent of these patients would like to be treated in this way again if necessary.     

Management of epistaxis in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia by Nd:YAG laser and quality of life assessment using the HR-QoL questionnaire

The purpose of this study was to describe the results of Nd:YAG laser application in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) patients and to measure the Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QoL) in patients with HHT before and after Nd:YAG laser application in a prospective, clinical trial at a university hospital. Twenty-seven consecutive patients with HHT and mild to moderate degrees of epistaxis were followed-up for 2 years after Nd:YAG laser treatments. Recurrence of epistaxis after Nd:YAG laser application and measurement of HR-QoL using the International Quality of Life Assessment questionnaire, version 1.1 (IQOLA 1.1), was found. Eight patients (30%) received only one Nd:YAG laser treatment, 15 (56%) had a recurrence and received a second treatment and 4 (14%) had two recurrences and received three Nd:YAG laser treatments. HR-QoL was improved 2 years after the first Nd:YAG laser application in both its Physical Health Dimension (47.5±2.9 vs. 38.1±2.3 before treatment, P <0.05) and Mental Health Dimension (45.1±2.7 vs. 39.6±2.4 before treatment, P <0.05). Although no curative treatment for HHT exists, Nd:YAG laser treatment seems to constitute a simple and efficient method of epistaxis control, resulting in a significant improvement in quality of life.     

Nd:YAG laser turbinate surgery animal experimental study: Preliminary report

The chronically hypertrophic nasal turbinate is a challenging problem for otolaryngologists. Although some success has been achieved with a number of medical and surgical methods, other forms of treatment are still needed. In this study, encouraging results were achieved using the neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser on canine turbinates. Clinical and histological results showed that with Nd:YAG laser surgery, coagulation occurs in the deep cavernous vessels and submucosal glands of the turbinate, while the overlying mucosa remains intact.     

Effectiveness of Nd: YAG laser therapy on Japanese cedar pollinosis

Many have reported on the effectiveness of laser surgery therapy for perennial allergic rhinitis. However, the suppressive effects of laser irradiation on allergic rhinitis and its symptoms have not been reported in patients with pollinosis. This is because therapeutic effects on pollinosis are difficult to evaluate. The amount of pollen in the air varies during the year, and from year to year. Also, allergic symptoms develop due to exposure to the amount of pollen which is markedly influenced by the weather. In this study, the severity of allergic symptoms in the pollen season was compared between patients treated with early medication, non-treated patients and patients treated with preseasonal contact Nd: YAG laser surgery. Results suggests that laser surgery was effective in reducing the severity of symptoms in patients with cedar pollinosis. Symptoms were milder in the laser group than in the medication group and non-treated group for 3-4 weeks after the start of seasonal pollinosis, although no differences were noted in the early weeks. This may be explained by the fact that laser irradiation reduces the lamina propria of the nasal mucosa, the site of allergic reactions. This also suggests that allergic pollen can't penetrate the mucosal surface which shows squamous epithelization after laser irradiation.     

YAG激光联合中药治疗常年性变应性鼻炎

对42例常年性变应性鼻炎患者采用YAG激光一次性凝固双侧下鼻甲前端及相对应的鼻中隔前部粘膜，同时加服中药温阳化饮汤治疗。结果：显效19例，有效15例，无效8例，总有效率81％，经6个月随访观察，疗效基本稳定。认为激光加中药疗法有疗程短、痛苦小、简单易行及疗效可靠的优点。     

Natural history and control of epistaxis in a group of German patients with Rendu-Osler-Weber disease

INTRODUCTION: Epistaxis is the most common symptom of a complex, genetically determined vasculopathy, which is known under the notion hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT, Rendu-Osler-Weber-syndrome). This study was initiated to gain more knowledge about the natural history of epistaxis in a German HHT-population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data of 49 HHT patients were ascertained by interviewing these patients with a standardized disease specific questionnaire. Patients' files were retrospectively reviewed for data concerning age, gender, past medical history, laboratory parameters, number of hospital admissions for epistaxis, conservative and operative types of therapy, treatment results and follow-up. MAIN RESULT: Epistaxis was the first and most prominent symptom in 93% of the patients and could be triggered most frequently by stress. Half of the patients had experienced first episodes of epistaxis in childhood, but usually epistaxis did not become troublesome before the age of 35 years. The effects of hormonal changes or therapies with systemic hormones were inconclusive with regard to impact on epistaxis. Patients with septal perforations had to be admitted for inpatient epistaxis treatment more frequently than patients with an intact nasal septum. An overall reduction of frequency and intensity of epistaxis could be achieved in 89% of the patients through the daily use of nasal lubricants and a minimum of two treatment sessions with the Nd:YAG laser. However in none of the cases the treatment results were permanent. More than 50% of the patients, who had been screened for visceral arteriovenous malformations, were positive for pathologic vascular lesions. PRINCIPAL CONCLUSION: The natural history of epistaxis in German HHT patients is similar to previously described entities from other parts of the world. First clinical signs of HHT may be present at an earlier age than previously thought.     

Nasal dermoplasty for Japanese hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

OBJECTIVE: While generally considered an effective treatment for moderate to severe epistaxis in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), nasal dermoplasty (ND) has not been well established in Japan. This prompted the present Japanese assessment of clinical efficacy and patient satisfaction following this procedure. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of clinical records of 15 patients with HHT undergoing ND between August 1991 and May 2004 and survey of these patients as to postsurgical conditions. Main outcome measures were skin graft "take" frequency after surgery (all patients), reported patient satisfaction (eight recent patients), and reported volume and frequency of epistaxis after versus before surgery (eight recent patients). RESULTS: Graft take rate was 100%. Most patients experienced reduced frequency and volume of bleeding. One patient required an additional operation, total closure of the external nares, 2 years later. Overall patients felt satisfied with ND, experiencing less nasal obstruction than expected. CONCLUSIONS: ND is effective in Japanese patients with moderate and severe nasal bleeding from HHT, reducing their risk of bleeding.     

Wedge turbinectomy: a new combined photocoagulative Nd:YAG laser technique

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate that Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation using a combination of interstitial and contact approaches in the surgical treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy yields improved results in terms of postoperative nasal patency, complications, and relapse. STUDY DESIGN: A group of 121 patients with symptoms of nasal obstruction due to hypertrophied inferior turbinates were treated between January 1994 and December 1997 at the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Unit of the Main Military Hospital of Rome using the wedge turbinectomy, a new endonasal laser technique. METHODS: This is a combined photocoagulative procedure performed under local anesthesia. In the first surgical step we perform interstitial photocoagulation using Nd:YAG laser and in the second step we use a contact approach, making two strips of photocoagulated mucosa running side by side from the tail to the head of turbinate. RESULTS: At 1-year follow-up, the complication rate in all our patients treated with this laser technique was very low and we achieved a steady improvement in nasal patency in 104 patients (85.9%). The relapse rate was approximately 14%, but we observed that 65% of the patients who experienced long-term failure were affected by allergic rhinitis. CONCLUSIONS: An accurate preoperative evaluation of the cause of the turbinate hypertrophy is fundamental to achieving better results after laser turbinectomy and reducing the risk of relapse.     

A prospective randomised controlled trial of Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation versus liquid paraffin plus antiseptic cream in the treatment of recurrent epistaxis

Clin. Otolaryngol. 2012, 37 , 271–275 Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation with that of liquid paraffin plus antiseptic cream in the management of recurrent epistaxis. Design: Prospective clinical study. Eighty consecutive patients with histories of recurrent epistaxis were randomly assigned to receive treatment in an outpatient setting consisting of either a combination of liquid paraffin plus antiseptic cream (group 1) or Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation (group 2). Setting: University‐affiliated teaching hospital. Participants: Eighty consecutive patients who suffered from recurrent anterior epistaxis presented to the Otolaryngology Department at the Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University between February 2011 and June 2011. Main outcome measures: The following outcome measures were assessed: bleeding intensity, bleeding frequency 4 and 12 weeks after treatment (0 = no bleeding, 1 = reduced bleeding, 2 = the same, 3 = worse), participant’s perception of discomfort during the management (grade 0–10, where 10 is the worst pain) and complications. Results: At 12 weeks, 85% of laser patients versus 40% of control patients had no reported bleeding. The outcome score at 4 weeks after treatment showed no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.130, P > 0.05); however, the outcome score at 12 weeks after treatment showed a significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.000, P < 0.01). The median and mean ± sd pain levels experienced were 5.0 and 5.2 ± 2.2. Both groups had no complications. Conclusions: It can be concluded that Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation is a preferable therapy in the treatment of recurrent epistaxis, especially in terms of long‐lasting efficacy. The level of pain associated with the procedure was tolerated. It is a simple, easy, safe and rapid therapy, which can be performed in an office setting.     

鼻咽癌局部复发或残留病灶的Nd：YAG激光手术挽救治疗

目的 探讨Nd:YAG激光手术挽救治疗鼻咽癌放射治疗后鼻咽局部复发或残留的可行性和临床疗效。方法在鼻内镜下经鼻腔Nd:YAG激光,对35例鼻咽癌经根治性放射治疗后鼻咽局部复发或残留病灶进行治疗。手术在局麻下进行,在鼻内镜直视下,激光功率调整在50W左右,YAG激光光纤经同侧或对侧鼻腔导入鼻咽部,气化切除肿瘤病灶。部分患者术后接受了再放射治疗,放射剂量20-60Gy不等。结果 手术均顺利完成。术后3年、5年生存率分别为51.4%、30.3%。结论 鼻内镜下Nd:YAG激光挽救手术是治疗鼻咽癌放射治疗后鼻咽局部复发或残留的有效手段,丰富了鼻咽癌放射治疗失败后的外科治疗手段。术后是否再需放射治疗,视具体情况决定。     

鼻内窥镜下Nd:YAG激光治疗慢性肥厚性鼻炎

目的：探讨鼻内窥镜下Ｎｄ：ＹＡＧ激光治疗慢性肥厚性鼻炎的疗效。方法：在鼻内窥镜直视下引导Ｎｄ：ＹＡＧ激光光纤,对５７例患者行粘膜下凝固法或局部照射法治疗。结果：治愈１０例（１７．５％）,显效１６例（２８．１％）,改善２８例（４９．１％）,无效３例（５．３％）,总有效率为９４．７％,无并发症发生。结论：与中、下鼻甲部分切除术及额镜直视Ｎｄ：ＹＡＧ激光治疗相比,本治疗手术创面小,出血少,视野清晰,治疗     

Usefulness of ND:YAG laser in head and neck surgery

Nd:YAG laser is widely used in surgery as well as in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery for 25 years. This type of laser is characterized by low absorption in water and haemoglobin, deep penetration to the tissue and high ability for vessels coagulation. The laser light can be guided with glassfiber and can be focussed with handpices and micromanipulators. These characteristics make Nd:YAG laser very useful surgical instrument, especially in ORL and head and neck surgery. One institution's experiences, based on 300 operations with Nd:YAG laser are presented and discussed. Main indications to Nd:YAG laser operations in our material were: malignant neoplasms of oral cavity, pharynx and larynx, papillomas and haemangiomas of mucosa of upper respiratory tract, tracheal stenoses, scars of the larynx after partial laryngectomies and snoring and sleep apnoea syndrome. In our opinion, Nd:YAG laser has high usefulness in treatment of malignant and benign head and neck neoplasms, as well as in laryngeal scars and treatment of snoring. In cases of post intubation tracheal stenoses and in cases of post strumectomy bilateral paralysis of larynx the treatment results were not satisfactory. High usefulness of Nd:YAG laser results from very good coagulation ability and wide possibility of transmission of laser light with glassfiber.     

Use of the Nd:YAG laser in otorhinolaryngology]

The Nd:YAG laser is suitable for the treatment of various otorhinolaryngological clinical disorders. These include the palliative reduction of tumor size in sites with difficult access, treatment of hemangiomas and reduction of hyperplastic turbinates. Within certain limits, other indications are treatment of recurrent epistaxis and recurrent polyposis. Palliative reduction of malignancies in the nasopharynx, esophagus, and bronchial system (laser power density: 1500-8000 W/cm2) must sometimes be carried out in several sessions in order to avoid complications due to the laser (i.e., perforation of the bronchial or esophageal wall, lesions of adjacent vessels or nerves). Nd:YAG laser treatment of hemangiomas (500-3000 W/cm2) can lead to excellent results. To avoid excessive thermal lesions, vascular tissue is cooled with ice cubes or with an ice-cold Ringer's solution. The laser process is continued until the onset of tissue blanching. Carbonizations of the tissue are to be avoided. In Nd:YAG laser therapy of hyperplastic lower nasal conchae (approx. 1000 W/cm2), results are based on submucous scarring in which the covering epithelium is maintained. The objective of Nd:YAG laser treatment of recurrent epistaxis in patients with Osler's disease (500 W/cm2) is to reduce the incidence of hemorrhage. Use of the laser in recurrent polyposis is best confined to patients who refuse conventional surgical revision operations. Laser light (500-3500 W/cm2) should only be applied for a short period of time (0.5 s) to avoid creating a rarefying osteitis.     

Use of a sprayed fibrin hemostatic sealant after laser therapy for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia epistaxis

BACKGROUND: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a relatively common autosomal dominant condition. Epistaxis is a frequent manifestation, often occurring daily and requiring iron and blood transfusions. Surgery often is bloody and difficult. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a sprayed fibrin, hemostatic sealant in preventing postoperative epistaxis after laser treatment of nasal mucosa in HHT. Fibrin sealant was compared with nasal packing for likelihood of postoperative epistaxis and financial impact including material costs and hospitalization fees. METHODS: Retrospective review was performed of 64 individual laser treatments for epistaxis in HHT patients at the University of California, San Diego, Medical Center between 2002 and 2005. Nasal packing was used in 30 procedures and fibrin sealant was used in 34 procedures. RESULTS: Six of 30 (20%) procedures using postoperative nasal packing required admission with an average hospital expense of $5914. One of 34 patients (3%) in the fibrin sealant group required hospitalization (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Aerosolized fibrin sealant prevents postoperative epistaxis after nasal laser treatment in HHT patients. Compared with traditional nasal packing we found improved patient comfort and recovery with substantial cost savings.     

Treatment of hemangioma with the neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser (Nd:YAG laser)]

Laser therapy and in particular Nd:YAG laser therapy has become of increasing importance amongst the various methods of treating haemangiomas. Nd:YAG laser radiation penetrates deep into the tissue. To avoid undesirable results of treatment, certain treatment guidelines must be observed: to protect the tissue from serious heat damage, the Nd:YAG laser radiation should be applied exclusively with simultaneous tissue cooling. Depending on the location of the haemangioma, this is carried out with ice cubes (if possible, not containing air bubbles) or with an ice-cold Ringer solution. The depth of penetration of the laser radiation can be increased by tissue compression with a piece of ice or with a special glass disc. In very voluminous haemangiomas, the laser light is additionally applied via a bare fibre directly on to the vascular tissue. The laser power densities we use are between 500 and 3,000 watts/cm2. The power chosen depends on the tissue effect of the laser radiation. Blanching of the vascular tissue without carbonisation is aimed at. With consistent observance of the treatment guidelines specified, haemangiomas should be treated as early as possible with the Nd:YAG laser. The treatment principle of "wait and see" is often advocated, but we consider to be obsolete, since cosmetically and functionally unsatisfactory residual scars may remain even after complete haemangioma regression. Moreover, the progressive haemangiomas which often lead to complications cannot be distinguished from regressive haemangiomas. Last but not least, the child and the parents should be spared the (in some cases appreciable) psychological strain of a haemangioma.     

Is oestrogen therapy justified in the treatment of hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia: a biochemical evaluation

Systemic and topical oestrogen can provoke squamous metaplasia of epithelium. In Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) the underlying telangiectasia may be protected from trauma and epistaxis reduced. Oestrogens have been advocated but their efficacy is unclear. Recent advances have now identified two oestrogen and one progesterone receptors. The aim of this study is to analyse the sex receptor status of HHT nasal mucosa to determine if oestrogen therapy is biochemically justified. Five HHT patients (three men, two women) and eight controls (four men, four women) underwent nasal mucosa biopsy. Samples were fixed in formalin and paraffin embedded. Alpha oestrogen (ERalpha) and beta oestrogen (ERss) and progesterone (PgR) receptors were identified using mouse monoclonal antibodies by the Streptavidin-biotin peroxidase method. ERss was detected in two HHT subjects (1 M: 1F) and two control subjects. ERalpha and PgR was absent in HHT subjects. This pilot study demonstrated that a subgroup of HHT patients were ERss positive. Oestrogen therapy therefore has a potential therapeutic role on a biochemical basis in these patients. ERss status should be determined before considering oestrogen therapy.     

Ultrasound-Guided Interstitial Nd: YAG Laser Treatment of Voluminous Hemangiomas and Vascular Malformations in 92 Patients

In many cases voluminous vascular anomalies of the head and neck region are still treated with conventional surgery, although neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser therapy offers a valuable treatment alternative. Ninety-two patients with voluminous hemangiomas and vascular malformations were treated with interstitial Nd:YAG laser therapy (power density, 1300 to 3300 W/cm²), partly complemented by a noncontact-mode Nd:YAG laser light application (energy density, 1000 to 2500 J/cm²). The vascular tumors had a diameter of more than 3 cm in at least two dimensions. Treatment was carried out under ultrasound and manual control. Nearly 60% of the patients (n = 55) showed a complete clinical regression. Thirty-three patients (35.8%) had a partial regression and were satisfied with the treatment outcome. Four patients were treated unsuccessfully with the laser, and three of them subsequently underwent conventional surgery. Only nine of the 92 patients (9.8%) showed cosmetic or functional impairments. The results of this first consecutive series study with a retrospective clinical evaluation of the interstitial Nd:YAG laser therapy of voluminous hemangiomas and vascular malformations in a large patient group demonstrate a high effectiveness of this novel therapy modality.     

Dose-related tissue effects of the CO2 and noncontact Nd:YAG lasers in the canine glottis

Objectives: The CO₂ laser is the standard for control of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis because of its predictable action on laryngeal tissue. The noncontact neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) 1064-nm laser is generally not used in the larynx owing to the lack of data on its tissue effects, and its potential lack of safety in the larynx. Combined Nd:YAG and CO₂ laser treatments have been used safely in the tracheobronchial tree to eradicate recurrent respiratory papillomas. The objectives of this study were to describe and evaluate a method for applying the noncontact Nd:YAG laser to the larynx, to compare the tissue effects of the Nd:YAG, CO₂, and combined Nd:YAG and CO₂ lasers in the canine larynx, and to extrapolate canine tissue data to the human. Methods: The CO₂, Nd:YAG, and combined Nd:YAG/CO₂ lasers were applied to the glottis in four mongrel dogs. Laryngectomy was performed and the tissue was examined histologically. The nature and degree of tissue injury were analyzed relative to laser type and energy data. Results: In the canine larynx, the CO₂ laser vaporized the surface epithelium and caused varying degrees of edema and necrosis of the lamina propria. The Nd:YAG laser did not cause ulceration but did show a greater degree of thermal damage to the lamina propria. Combined Nd:YAG/CO₂ applications resulted in separation of the perimysial fibers from the muscle fibers of the vocalis muscle. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the noncontact Nd:YAG laser can be applied in a controlled fashion to the canine larynx at appropriate power densities. Anatomical differences between human and canine larynges are considered. Extrapolation to humans is proposed. Key Words: Laser, larynx, tissue effects, papillomatosis.