Ballooning canaliculoplasty after lacrimal trephination in monocanalicular and common canalicular obstruction.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical effect of balloon canaliculoplasty with LacriCATH after lacrimal trephination in monocanalicular and common canalicular obstruction.


METHODS
Silicone intubation following ballooning dilation with a 2-mm-diameter catheter after lacrimal trephination was attempted in 66 eyes of 62 patients (10 men, 52 women; mean age, 67.3 years; age range, 34-77 years) with epiphora due to monocanalicular or common canalicular obstruction between January 2003 and February 2005. A total of 56 of the 66 eyes had common canalicular obstruction, and ten had monocanalicular obstruction.


RESULTS
The cause of obstruction in 54 (81.8%) eyes was idiopathic. Overall initial technical improvement was achieved in 64 (97.0%) eyes (common canalicular obstruction, 56/56, 100%; monocanalicular obstruction, 8/10, 80.0%) Immediate clinical improvement was achieved in 54 eyes (81.8%). The cumulative patency rates at the last clinic visit were 53.6% in cases of common canalicular obstruction and 25.0% in cases of monocanalicular obstruction. Causes of failure were combined nasolacrimal duct obstruction, recurrent monocanalicular obstruction, and acute canaliculitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Balloon canaliculoplasty after lacrimal trephination is a simple and safe method that may be a good alternative treatment for common canalicular and distal canalicular obstructions, before resorting to conjunctivodacryorhinostomy with Jones tube insertion.
Yang
Suk-Woo
SW
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, College of Medicine, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. yswoph@catholic.ac.kr.
Park
Hae-Young
HY
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, College of Medicine, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Kikkawa
Don O
DO
Division of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002404:Catheterization; D003607:Dacryocystitis / Q000150:complications; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation; D007766:Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome