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Long-term results of maintenance of lacrimal silicone stent in patients with functional epiphora after external dacryocystorhinostomy

Eye volume 34, pages669–674(2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate long-term outcomes of maintenance of lacrimal silicone stent for the management of functional epiphora after anatomically patent external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 101 eyes of 75 patients who were diagnosed to have functional epiphora after external DCR from 2005 to 2014. Functional epiphora was defined as epiphora that persisted or recurred even after patent DCR confirmed by a lacrimal irrigation test. Secondary silicone intubation was indicated when the patients wanted a further intervention. The stent was intended to be kept in situ unless there was a stent-related complication or the patient wanted removal.

Results

In total, 34 of 75 patients (45.3%, 52 eyes) who agreed to the intervention underwent secondary silicone intubation. The success rates at 1, 3, and 5 years after surgery were 96.2%, 75.5%, and 70.2%, respectively. At the final follow-up (mean 72.7 ± 26.4 months), 32 (61.5%) eyes chose to retain the silicone tube: silicone stent was well maintained without epiphora and complications once inserted in 18 eyes (34.6%), whereas tube replacement was needed in 14 eyes (26.9%) because of nasal crust or whitish plaque formation on the tube surface. In 13 cases (25.0%), silicone stent was removed because of tube-related complications, and the most common complication was canaliculitis (n = 8, 15.4%).

Conclusions

Secondary intubation and maintenance of the stent is an effective and simple procedure for functional epiphora. The main obstacle to long-term maintenance is tube-associated canaliculitis.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Korea

    Min Joung Lee

  2. Barun Seoul Eye Clinic, Seongnam, Korea

    Jinku Park

  3. Department of Ophthalmology Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Min Kyu Yang & Sang In Khwarg

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea

    Youn Joo Choi

  5. Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea

    Namju Kim

  6. Department of Ophthalmology, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea

    Ho-Kyung Choung

  7. Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

    Ho-Kyung Choung & Sang In Khwarg

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  1. Min Joung Lee
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  2. Jinku Park
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  3. Min Kyu Yang
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  4. Youn Joo Choi
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  5. Namju Kim
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  6. Ho-Kyung Choung
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  7. Sang In Khwarg
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Correspondence to Sang In Khwarg.

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Lee, M.J., Park, J., Yang, M.K. et al. Long-term results of maintenance of lacrimal silicone stent in patients with functional epiphora after external dacryocystorhinostomy. Eye 34, 669–674 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-019-0572-2

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