title: Selective non-intubation of a silicone tube in external dacryocystorhinostomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether silicone tube insertion is always necessary in external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR).
  
  
  METHODS
  During external DCR for primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction carried out between January 2001 and October 2004, silicone intubation was not performed selectively if the lacrimal sac was large and the nasal cavity was not severely narrowed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of a total of 166 DCR cases in 153 patients, no silicone tube was placed in 74 eyes of 69 patients (44.6%). Anatomic patency of rhinostomy was achieved in all non-intubation group eyes. However, four (6.7%) of these 69 eyes showed persistent epiphora even with anatomic patency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Silicone tubing can be avoided in about 50% of cases of external DCR without detrimentally affecting the success rate. Cases in which intubation was avoided had a large lacrimal sac and a wide nasal cavity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Choung
authors.forename: Sang In
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Khwarg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D012826:Silicone Elastomers