title: [Lacrimal duct obstruction treated with lacrimonasal stent].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze a series of patients with lacrimal duct obstruction treated with polyurethane stents.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 125 cases of lacrimal duct obstruction corresponding to 115 patients, of whom 30 were males (26.08%) and 85 females (73.91%). The obstruction involved the right side in 51 cases (40.8%) and the left side in 74 (59.2%). Mean age was 65 +/- 14.64 years. Symptoms included chronic epiphora in 65 patients (52%), acute lacrimal sac inflammation in 33 (26.4%), mucocele in 6 (4.8%) and recurrent conjunctivitis in 4 (3.2%). Seventeen patients came to us diagnosed with lacrimal duct obstruction. Time of follow up was one year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stents were successfully implanted in 120 cases (96%). Surgical complications included pain in 5.83%, eyelid inflammation in 5%, nasal bleeding in 0.83% and false duct in 0.83%. Functional success was achieved in 82 patients (68.3%), and surgical failure occurred in 38 patients (31.7%). Mean time of stent failure was 178 days. In these cases, inner granulation tissue was found in 63.15% of the cases and mucoid material in 36.85%. The most common postoperative complication was mucocele formation, which ocurred in 7.5% of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our experience, polyurethane stent implantation is a good alternative for treating nasolacrimal obstruction, but not as effective as endonasal or external dacryocystorhinostomy.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soler Machín
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Castillo Laguarta
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: De Gregorio Ariza
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Medrano
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cristóbal Bescós
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003607:Dacryocystitis / Q000209:etiology; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007766:Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009078:Mucocele / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome