Comparison of the efficacies of 1.0mm and 1.5mm silicone tubes for the treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction

Abstract

This study was designed to compare the postoperative outcomes of bicanalicular intubation using different diameters of silicone tubes to treat post-saccal nasolacrimal duct obstruction. A total of 130 patients diagnosed with post-saccal obstruction who underwent endoscopic-assisted silicone tube intubation were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups; those intubated with a 1.5-mm large diameter tube (Group LD) and those with a 1.0-mm normal diameter tube (Group ND). The patency rates of the two groups at one year after tube removal were compared using the Kaplan–Meier's curve and Restricted mean survival time (RMST) method with τ = 365 days. Results showed that the recurrence rate after tube removal was significantly lower in the LD group compared to the ND group (p = 0.001). The patency rates at one year after removal in the LD and ND group were 0.857 (0.754-0.919) and 0.739 (0.617-0.828), respectively. When comparing the patency rates by the RMST method at τ = 365 days, the RMST difference, RMST ratio, and RMTL ratio were higher in the LD group at p = 0.045, 0.052, and 0.046, respectively.

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

“…The routine use of stenting for lacrimal duct obstruction in the absence of canalicular disease is still controversial. Advocates for stenting reported an increased patency rate by preventing adhesion of the mucosal lining of the channels [5,[26][27][28][29] . It is a useful adjunct when there is partial or complete canalicular obstructions, since re-stenosis of the canaliculus is the most common reason for failure [10,[30][31] .…”