Use of a lacrimal stent retrieval hook in the removal of occluded plastic and expandable metallic lacrimal stents.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical usefulness of a stent retrieval hook in the removal of occluded lacrimal stents.


METHODS
The hook consisted of an inner hook part and an outer pusher part. Under administration of local anesthetic, the retrieval hook was introduced into the nasal cavity and aimed laterally toward the inferior meatus to grasp the distal end of the stent. After grasping the end of the stent, the sheath was pushed to fully grasp it. After that, the hook was pulled out of the external naris. The retrieval hook was used to remove 267 occluded lacrimal plastic or metallic stents.


RESULTS
Technical success rate was 97% in the removal of plastic stents and 96% in the removal of metallic stents. The causes of technical failure were entrenchment of granulation tissue into the stent in six plastic stents and one metallic stent, and inaccessibility of the hook to the distal tip of the stent in one plastic stent. These eight stents were removed by an otorhinolaryngologist or an ophthalmologist. Epistaxis occurred in six patients, which was controlled by a nasal pack.


CONCLUSIONS
The lacrimal stent retrieval hook seems useful for the removal of occluded stents.
Kim
H S
HS
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
Song
H Y
HY
Kim
T H
TH
Kang
S G
SG
Kim
J H
JH
Yoon
H K
HK
Sung
K B
KB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020878:Device Removal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008670:Metals