title: Silicone tubing after endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy: is it necessary?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR) is increasing in popularity as a treatment of nasolacrimal obstructions because it has proven to be an effective and safe procedure. In this study the success of EN-DCR combined with or without bicanalicular silicone stents was evaluated in patients with nasolacrimal obstructions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two consecutive EN-DCR procedures were performed in 36 patients during 2000-2004. The surgery was primary in 23 cases and revision in 19 cases. Bicanalicular silicone stents were inserted in 18 cases and in 24 cases stenting was avoided.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall success rate after EN-DCR was 81%. The success rate of EN-DCR was 89% with silicone tubing and 75% without silicone tubing. The mean duration of postoperative follow-up was 4 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our retrospective study no significant statistical differences were seen between the patients with stenting compared with patients without stenting. However, prospective, randomized studies are clearly needed to answer the question of whether the use of stents is advisable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 1777, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland. grigori.smirnov@kuh.fi
authors.forename: Grigori
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smirnov
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tuomilehto
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teräsvirta
authors.forename: Juhani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nuutinen
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seppä
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D012826:Silicone Elastomers