Long-term outcomes of laser dacryoplasty combined with intubation using a new silicon tube in patients with lacrimal duct obstruction

AIM:To determine the 15-year outcomes of laser dacryoplasty(LDP)in patients with lacrimal duct obstruction;and to evaluate LDP combined with intubation using a new silicone tube to treat complicated cases.METHODS:Patients with lacrimal duct obstruction and treated with LDP between April 2000 and April 2005 were investigated retrospectively.Totally 116 eyes with completed 15-year follow-up records were included in this study.For complicated cases(52 eyes of 52 patients),both LDP and intubation using a self-made silicon tube were performed.For patients with uncomplicated obstruction(64 eyes of 61 patients),only LDP was performed.Outcomes were assessed based on results of lacrimal irrigation and degree of symptoms during follow-up.RESULTS:At the follow-up time of 15y,81 eyes achieved full success(69.8%);21 eyes got improved(18.1%);and 14 eyes were considered failure(12.1%).The success rate was 71.2%(37/52 eyes)for complicated cases;and 68.8%(44/64 eyes)for uncomplicated cases.No statistically significant difference between two groups was observed(P=0.961).No postoperative complication was observed.CONCLUSION:LDP is a well-tolerated,simple,and effective procedure with satisfactory long-term outcomes in selected patients,which make it a good alternative to conventional dacryocystorhinostomy.In addition,intubation with the self-made mono-canalicular silicone tube facilitates the management of complicated cases with few complications.

Preliminary study on the efficacy of lacrimal duct reconstruction with pedicled conjunctival flap in the treatment of severe lacrimal canalicular obstruction with conjunctivochalasis

AIM:To determine the efficacy and safety of pedicled conjunctival lacrimal duct reconstruction in the treatment of severe obstruction of superior and inferior lacrimal canaliculi with conjunctivochalasis.METHODS:This study was per formed as a retrospective analysis of patients who received conjunctival dacryocystorhinostomy with pedicled conjunctival flap reconstruction combined with tube intubation due to severe superior and inferior lacrimal canalicular obstruction with conjunctivochalasis from January 2019 to October 2019.The clinical data included the degree of preoperative epiphora and postoperative relief,preoperative examination of lacrimal duct computed tomography and ultrasound biomicroscopy,postoperative evaluation of lacrimal duct function by chloramphenicol taste and fluorescein dye disappearance test,etc.Syringing was carried out to determine the reconstruction and patency of the lacrimal duct.RESULTS:All 9 patients(9 eyes)had severe canalicular obstruction with conjunctivochalasis.The patients included 4 males and 5 females aged between 47–65y with an average age of 52.2±6.7y.At 3mo follow-up,the tube was removed and the patients were followed for a further 3mo.After tube removal,6 patients showed no epiphora.These patients also had positive chloramphenicol tastes and normal fluorescein dye disappearance test results.Two patientshad epiphora.Also,syringing showed partial patency of the reconstructed lacrimal duct.One patient had no improvement in epiphora with negative chloramphenicol taste and fluorescein dye disappearance test results and obstruction of the reconstructed lacrimal duct.The total effective rate of the operation was 8/9,with no serious complications.CONCLUSION:Pedicled conjunctival lacrimal duct reconstruction conjunctival dacryocystorhinostomy is safe and effective for superior and inferior canalicular obstruction with conjunctivochalasis.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Lacrimal Passage Obstruction by Lacrimal Endoscope

The diagnosis and treatment of the lacrimal passage obstruction with lacrimal endoscope was investigated and its subsidiary surgical procedures were evaluated. Ninety-three patients （109 eyes） with lacrimal passage obstruction, including presaccal canalicular obstruction （PSCO） and nasolacrimal duct obstruction （NLDO）, were examined under a lacrimal endoscope, and the obstruc- tions were treated with laser or micro-drill. All patients were followed up after the operation for 3--6 months. The difference between the laser and the micro-drill treatment was observed. During the period of follow-up, the curative rate was 82.57%. The healing rate in PSCO group and NLDO was 80.36% and 84.91% respectively （P〉0.05）. Alter treatment with the laser, the healing rate was 93.33% in the PSCO group and 66.67% in the NLDO group respectively （P〈0.05）. After treatment with the micro-drill, the healing rate in PSCO and NLDO groups was 65.39% and 94.28% respec- tively （P〈0.01）. The lacrimal passage obstruction can be observed and treated directly through the lacrimal endoscope. Choosing different surgical procedures in operation according to the locations of the obstruction is helpful to improve the effectiveness.

Pathological,immunohistochemical and microbiologicalal analysis of lacrimal sac biopsies in patients with chronic dacrocystitis

AIM:To analyze cases of obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct which creates a fertile environment for secondary bacterial Infection and can result in dacryocystitis,which is a constant threat to cornea and orbital soft tissue and a potential source of endophthalmitis following intraocular surgery.The majority of obstructions of the lacrimal excretory outflow system are acquired ones occurring in adulthood and involving the distal parts of the system.Acquired obstruction may be primary/idiopathic or secondary to a wide variety of infectious,inflammatory,traumatic,mechanical,toxic or neoplastic causes mimicking idiopathic inflammation.These cases are treated by dacryocystorhinostomy(DCR).METHODS:The present study was conducted to determine the histopathologic,immunohistochemical and current microbiologic characteristics of lacrimal sac specimens in patients undergoing external dacryocystorhinostomy.RESULTS:Non-specific lacrimal sac pathology was present in all 33 cases and 81.8%of the cases showed moderate chronic inflammation with a chronic inflammatory score(CIS)ranging between 4 and 6,whereas 12.12%showed severe inflammatory changes with a CIS of 7.Mild degree of inflammation was seen in6.06%with a CIS of 3.The total prevalence of grampositive,gram-negative,and culture-negative samples were 59.4%,37.5%,and 3%respectively.CONCLUSION:Non-specific chronic inflammation withfibrosis is indeed the most commonly reported histopathological finding in lacrimal sac wall biopsy specimens.

Effects of medication methods after simple and effective probing of lacrimal passage

AIM:To evaluate the effect of reducing the use of antibiotics in the treatment of infant bacterial dacryocystitis after probing of the lacrimal duct.METHODS:A total of 542 cases of children under one year old and accepting nasolacrimal duct probing treatment were divided into two groups, which were treated with topical and oral antibiotics, respectively.Conjunctival sac secretions were used as a control index of bacterial infection, whereas the disappearance of epiphora symptoms and lacrimal passage patency were used as cure indexes. The χ2test was used to compare enumeration and measurement data, and a statistical significance was set at P 【0.05. The therapeutic effect on the two groups of postoperative patients was investigated.RESULTS:In the two study groups, no significant differences in gender, age and postoperative control of lacrimal sac infection were observed. The cure rates after three probing operations also showed no significant difference.CONCLUSION:After probing of the lacrimal passage,results of this study confirmed that postoperative medication without oral antibiotics but an ophthalmic dosage of antibiotics was a simple and effective treatment method.

Schneiderian papilloma occasionally found in the lacrimal sac

Schneiderian papilloma is a kind of benign tumor that generally arises in the nasal and paranasal sinus mucosa. Here we present a case of Schneiderian papilloma found in the lacrimal sac.