USING THE KTP 532 LASER TO CONTROL EPISTAXIS IN PATIENTS WITH HEREDITARY HEMORRHAGIC TELANGIECTASIA/

Osler-Weber-Rendu disease remains a challenging clinical management pr oblem, We have found the potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser (KTP/532) f or photocoagulation of intranasal telangiectases to be useful in contr olling epistaxis refractory to traditional surgical therapy, We presen t the case of a patient who had Osler-Weber-Rendu disease previously t reated with partial septectomy, turbinectomy, and intranasal dermoplas ty. A technique using the KTP laser for photocoagulation of intranasal telangiectases is described, This technique has resulted in reducing the frequency of epistaxis, decreasing the need for transfusions, dimi nishing hospital admissions, and improving quality of life for this pa tient, The KTP laser plays an important role in the management of recu rrent epistaxis in patients with Osler-Weber-Rendu disease.