Lacrimal silicone intubation for anatomically successful but functionally failed external dacryocystorhinostomy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of lacrimal silicone intubation for the management of epiphora in patients who have previously undergone anatomically successful dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR).


METHODS
The authors recruited 13 patients (4 male, 9 female) who had persistent epiphora after an anatomically successful primary external DCR and conducted lacrimal silicone intubation through the dacryocystorhinostomy site.


RESULTS
Mean patient age was 54.2 years (range 42-80) and mean follow-up was 13.8 months (range 6-30). Epiphora was resolved in all 13 patients following silicone intubation. Spontaneous tube extrusion occurred in three patients, but a new one was easily reintubated.


CONCLUSIONS
Lacrimal silicone intubation is a simple safe and effective procedure for patients with epiphora even after anatomically successful DCR.
Kim
Nam Ju
NJ
Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Jong Hyun
JH
Hwang
Sang Won
SW
Choung
Ho Kyung
HK
Lee
Yong Jae
YJ
Khwarg
Sang In
SI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus; D007766:Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure
D012826:Silicone Elastomers