title: Direct silicone intubation using Nunchaku-style tube (NST-DSI) to treat lacrimal passage obstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To confirm the usefulness of direct silicone intubation using a Nunchaku-style tube (NST-DSI) for the treatment of lacrimal passage obstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Included in this retrospective study were 54 cases (45 patients) of adult-onset lacrimal passage obstruction on which NST-DSI was performed. The cases were subdivided into two groups: 29 cases of common canalicular obstruction (the canalicular obstruction group) and 25 cases of nasolacrimal duct obstruction (the duct obstruction group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the final examination, irrigating fluid passed readily through the lacrimal passage in 39 (72.2%) of the 54 cases. Twenty-two cases (75.9%) were successful in the canalicular obstruction group (29 cases) whereas 17 cases (68.0%) were successful in the duct obstruction group (25 cases).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NST-DSI is an effective alternative to treat both common canalicular obstruction and nasolacrimal duct obstruction. We regard NST-DSI as the first choice for the treatment of lacrimal passage obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kishiwada Municipal Hospital, Osaka, Japan. inatani@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inatani
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuchi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Denno
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D012826:Silicone Elastomers