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Updated: Aug 4, 2026
Transcanalicular Diode Laser-assisted Dacryocystorhinostomy for the Treatment of Primary Acquired Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction
Published on: October 13, 2017
[Lacrimal duct obstruction treated with lacrimonasal stent]
J Soler Machín1, J M Castillo Laguarta, M A De Gregorio Ariza
1Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, España.
Objective:
To analyze a series of patients with lacrimal duct obstruction treated with polyurethane stents.
Material And Methods:
We studied 125 cases of lacrimal duct obstruction corresponding to 115 patients, of whom 30 were males (26.08%) and 85 females (73.91%). The obstruction involved the right side in 51 cases (40.8%) and the left side in 74 (59.2%). Mean age was 65 +/- 14.64 years. Symptoms included chronic epiphora in 65 patients (52%), acute lacrimal sac inflammation in 33 (26.4%), mucocele in 6 (4.8%) and recurrent conjunctivitis in 4 (3.2%). Seventeen patients came to us diagnosed with lacrimal duct obstruction. Time of follow up was one year.
Results:
Stents were successfully implanted in 120 cases (96%). Surgical complications included pain in 5.83%, eyelid inflammation in 5%, nasal bleeding in 0.83% and false duct in 0.83%. Functional success was achieved in 82 patients (68.3%), and surgical failure occurred in 38 patients (31.7%). Mean time of stent failure was 178 days. In these cases, inner granulation tissue was found in 63.15% of the cases and mucoid material in 36.85%. The most common postoperative complication was mucocele formation, which ocurred in 7.5% of the patients.
Conclusions:
In our experience, polyurethane stent implantation is a good alternative for treating nasolacrimal obstruction, but not as effective as endonasal or external dacryocystorhinostomy.
