J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2012 Oct;53(10):1373-1377.

Long-Term Results of Silicone Tube Intubation in Patients with Common Canalicular Stenosis

• Jin SW
• Ahn HB
• Kim MH

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the clinical effects of silicone tube intubation in patients with epiphora and a narrow common canaliculus.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective chart review of 107 patients (169 eyes) who underwent silicone tube intubation for treatment of canaliculus between August 2008 and August 2010 and who were followed for more than 12 months. The patients were divided into 3 groups: patients with canalicular stenosis (A), patients with common canalicular stenosis (B), and patients with nasolacrimal duct stenosis (C). Successful treatment was defined as attainment of the predefined requisites, which included improvements in the clinical symptoms following surgery, an adequate passage of tears resulting from post-operative probing and syringing, and continued improvement to the time of the patients' final follow-up visit. In contrast, surgical failure was defined as the lack of post-operative symptom improvement, and recurrence was defined as the appearance of epiphora following the silicone tube extubation.
RESULTS
The average follow-up duration for the entire group of patients was 30.5 months. The success rates of Group A, Group B, and Group C were 66%, 75.4%, and 56.3%, respectively, demonstrating that Group B attained the highest success rate. These success rates are similar to rates resulting from other types of surgery such as canaliculodacryocystorhinostomy.
CONCLUSIONS
Silicone tube intubation can be considered a relatively simple and effective surgical technology for the long-term treatment of patients with a narrow common canaliculus.

Keyword

Common canalicular stenosis; Long-term results; Silicone tube intubation

MeSH Terms

Constriction, Pathologic
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Intubation
Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases
Nasolacrimal Duct
Recurrence
Retrospective Studies
Silicones
Silicones

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Long term success rate of silicone tube intubation.

Reference

1. Keith CG. Intubation of the lacrimal passages. Am J Ophthalmol. 1968. 65:70–74.

2. Beigi B, O'Keefe M. Results of Crawford tube intubation in children. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh). 1993. 71:405–407.

3. Angrist RC, Dortzbach RK. Silicone intubation for partial and total nasolacrimal duct obstruction in adults. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 1985. 1:51–54.

4. Psilas K, Eftaxias V, Kastanioudakis J, Kalogeropoulos C. Silicone intubation as an alternative to dacryocystorhinostomy for nasolacrimal drainage obstruction in adults. Eur J Ophthalmol. 1993. 3:71–76.

5. Conway ST. Evaluation and management of "functional" nasolacrimal blockage: results of a survey of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive surgery. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 1994. 10:185–187.

6. Kim DM, Roh KK. Results with silicone stent in lacrimal drainage system. J Korean Ophthalmol Soc. 1987. 28:733–735.

7. Sohn HY, Hur J, Chung EH, Won IG. Clinical observation on silicone intubation in obstruction of lacrimal drainage system. J Korean Ophthalmol Soc. 1990. 31:135–140.

8. Lee SH, Kim SD, Kim JD. Silicone intubation for nasolacrimal duct obstruction in adult. J Korean Ophthalmol Soc. 1997. 38:185–189.

9. Kim HD, Jeong SK. Silicone tube intubation in acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. J Korean Ophthalmol Soc. 2000. 41:327–331.

10. Angrist RC, Dortzbach RK. Silicone intubation for partial and total nasolacrimal duct obstruction in adults. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 1985. 1:51–54.

11. Kim HD, Jeong SK. Silicone tube intubation in acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. J Korean Ophthalmol Soc. 2000. 41:327–331.

12. Lee HS, Hwang WS, Byun YJ. Clinical results of silicone intubation for nasolacrimal duct obstruction in adult. J Korean Ophthalmol Soc. 1997. 38:1926–1930.

13. Connell PP, Fulcher TP, Chacko E, et al. Long term follow up of nasolacrimal intubation in adults. Br J Ophthalmol. 2006. 90:435–436.

14. Ahmadi MA, Esmaeli B. Surgical treatment of canalicular stenosis in patients receiving docetaxel weekly. Arch Ophthalmol. 2001. 119:1802–1804.

15. Struck HG, Tost F. [Postoperative complications of Toti DCR (dacryocystorhinostomy. An indication for canalicular surgery]. Ophthalmologe. 1999. 96:443–447.

16. Doucet TW, Hurwitz JJ. Canaliculodacryocystorhinostomy in the management of unsuccessful lacrimal surgery. Arch Ophthalmol. 1982. 100:619–621.

17. Shah A, Tekriwal AK, Drummond PM, Woodruff G. Long-term results of closed nasolacrimal intubation in adults. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2007. 17:490–493.

18. Anderson RL, Edwards JJ. Indications, complications and results with silicone stents. Ophthalmology. 1979. 86:1474–1487.

19. Lauring L. Silicone intubation of the lacrimal system: pitfalls, problems and complications. Ann Ophthalmol. 1976. 8:489–498.

20. Pashby RC, Rathbun JE. Silicone tube intubation of the lacrimal drainage system. Arch Ophthalmol. 1979. 97:1318–1322.