title: Predictors of Silicone Tube Intubation Success in Patients with Lacrimal Drainage System Stenosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate prognostic factors affecting silicone tube intubation outcomes in Asian patients with lacrimal drainage system stenosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was conducted on the medical records of 822 patients (1,118 eyes) who had undergone silicone tube intubation to treat lacrimal drainage system stenosis between January 2011 and December 2012. Patients were divided into two groups: a success group and a failure group. Success was defined as the disappearance of epiphora symptoms, normalization of tear meniscus height, and the easy passage of fluid without resistance on the postoperative syringing test. Patient and ocular parameters were compared between the success and failure groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 994 eyes of 727 patients were included in analyses. Patients had a mean follow-up period of 34.11 ± 18.70 weeks. Silicone tube intubation was successful in 67.2% of participants. Significant differences between the success and failure groups were found for age (p < 0.001), history of ipsilateral facial palsy (p = 0.028), follow-up period (p < 0.001), and degree of passage on the preoperative syringing test (p = 0.001). Only age (p < 0.001) and degree of passage on the preoperative syringing test (p = 0.002) remained significantly associated with silicone tube intubation success in multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age was negatively associated with silicone tube intubation success in patients with lacrimal drainage system stenosis. The success rate was higher in patients who showed easy passage of fluid without resistance on the preoperative syringing test. These factors should be considered by surgeons planning silicone tube intubation in patients with lacrimal drainage system stenosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Myung-Gok Eye Research Institute, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: Seoul Ire Eye Clinic, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Saem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Myung-Gok Eye Research Institute, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Myung-Gok Eye Research Institute, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Myung-Gok Eye Research Institute, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Myung-Gok Eye Research Institute, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Joo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012828:Silicones; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones
keywords: Age; Facial palsy; Lacrimal drainage system stenosis; Silicone tube intubation; Syringing test