Balloon catheter dilation in common canalicular obstruction of the lacrimal system: safety and long-term effectiveness.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety and long-term effectiveness of balloon catheter dilation in the treatment of common canalicular obstruction of the lacrimal system.


METHODS
Fluoroscopically guided dilation with a 3-mm-diameter balloon catheter was attempted in 195 eyes of 148 patients (26 men, 122 women; mean age, 57 years; age range, 33-78 years) with epiphora due to common canalicular obstruction. Eighty-four of 195 eyes had complete obstruction, and 111 had partial obstruction.


RESULTS
Complications were self-limited nasal bleeding (n = 8), false passage (n = 7), and extravasation of contrast material (n = 6). Initial technical success was achieved in 76 (90%) of 84 eyes with complete obstruction and in 104 (94%) of 111 eyes with partial obstruction. In the 180 eyes with technical success, immediate clinical improvement was achieved in 76 eyes with complete obstruction and in 100 eyes with partial obstruction. The mean follow-up period was 36 weeks (range, 4-168 weeks). The cumulative patency rates were 51% at 6-month, 43% at 12-month, and 40% at 24-month follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the long-term recurrence rate is relatively high, balloon catheter dilation is a safe and effective therapeutic technique to be used initially in common canalicular obstruction.
Ko
G Y
GY
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kangnam St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, the Catholic University of Korea, Seoul.
Lee
D H
DH
Ahn
H S
HS
Yoon
H K
HK
Sung
K B
KB
Song
H Y
HY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007766:Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome