[Site of a polyurethane stent in dacryocystography. Is postoperative success hereby predictable?].
BACKGROUND
Despite new methods for treating complete stenosis of the nasolacrimal duct dacryocystorhinostomy remains the standard operation. Implanting a nasolacrimal polyurethane stent through the nasolacrimal duct to preserve the natural lacrimal pathway seems to offer alternative procedure with similar success rate and without skin incision and general anesthesia. We examined whether an anatomically correct position increases its success rates.


METHODS
This prospective study included 40 patients (mean age 57 years). The polyurethane stent was implanted during dacryocystography, and its position was checked at follow-up visits after 6 months. In the event of an additional canalicular stenosis a 45-mm-long stent was implanted, in the other patients a 35-mm-long stent.


RESULTS
A dacryocystographically correct position was found in only 21 of 40 patients; in the other 19 the stent did not enter the nose under the inferior concha. However, there was no correlation between correct position under the inferior concha and success rate. In 8 of the 40 patients the stent was not patent.


CONCLUSIONS
The postoperative success rate cannot be predicted by the radiographic position along the ductus nasolacrimalis.
Anders
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Klinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde der Charité, Medizinische Fakultät, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. norbert.anders@charite.de
Hoffmann
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KT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011140:Polyurethanes; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011859:Radiography; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011140:Polyurethanes