title: Ballooning canaliculoplasty after lacrimal trephination in monocanalicular and common canalicular obstruction.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Suk-Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, College of Medicine, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hae-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Don O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Kikkawa
mesh_terms: 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