title: Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy with silicone, polypropylene, and T-tube stents; randomized controlled trial of efficacy and safety.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy and safety of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (En-DCR) with different stent materials for lacrimal sac intubation in primary nasolacrimal ductal obstructions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled study with three parallel groups. Level of evidence is 1b.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 91 patients (five bilateral) with primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) at a tertiary referral center scheduled for En-DCR were to allocated into three stent groups with a sealed envelope and were randomized into three treatments: silicone, Prolene (polypropylene), and otologic T-tube. Ophthalmology and otolaryngology clinics evaluated the patients preoperatively and postoperatively with endoscopes, lacrimal system syringing, and dacryocystography. The success of the stents was evaluated 12 months after surgery with symptom relief and ostial patency. Complications were also noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall success rate of the En-DCR in the stent groups was 78.1% (75/96); specifically, 87.5% (28/32) with silicone, 84.4% (27/32) with Prolene, and 62.5% (20/32) with T-tube. The efficacy of the procedures with the T-tube was significantly lower than that of the Prolene and silicone (p = .031, χ(2) test). There were no significant differences between the silicone and Prolene (p = .718, χ(2) test). Prolene was found to be related with orbital complications. Spontaneous loss is a particular complication of otologic T-tube and highly portends to failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study suggest that efficacy, defined as anatomic and functional success, is equally high for silicone and Prolene stents and lower for otologic T-tube in En-DCR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Mustafa Kemal University School of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Semsettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okuyucu
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gorur
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oksuz
authors.forename: Ertap
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akoglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012828:Silicones; D015607:Stents
chemical_list: D011126:Polypropylenes; D012828:Silicones