[Von Willebrand syndrome--risk of hemorrhage in ENT interventions in childhood].

Von Willebrand's disease (vWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder. Typical clinical features such as bleeding after surgery or trauma might suggest the disease. We present a series of 24 patients with vWD treated between 1989 and 1992. Diagnosis was confirmed by a reduction in plasma factor VIII antigen concentration, reduction of ristocetin cofactor activity and reduced factor VIII activity. Seventeen of the patients underwent surgery (7 adenoidectomies, 8 tonsillectomies, 2 paranasal sinus operations) and received preoperative stimulation of von Willebrand factor (vWF) using DDAVP. This resulted in a rapid increase in plasma vWF concentration from an average of 56% before stimulation to 190% of the normal value after stimulation. A reduction of partial thromboplastin time from an average of 44.4 seconds to 34.4 seconds was observed following DDAVP. No bleeding complications or other side-effects occurred. Preoperative stimulation of vWF using DDAVP proved to be a safe method to reduce the risk of bleeding in patients with vWD undergoing surgery.