Implantation of a Coronary Stent Into the Canaliculus of a Human Cadaver: A Pilot Study

To evaluate the possibility of implanting a drug-eluting coronary stent into the canaliculus of a human cadaver.

The punctum and canaliculus of an embalmed human cadaver were identified and dilated using a punctum dilator and Bowman probes. At this stage, the integrity of the lacrimal drainage system was assessed by dacryoendoscopy. A drug-eluting coronary stent, which was collapsed around a balloon at the tip of a catheter, was inserted into the canaliculus. The balloon was inflated to expand and lock the spring-like stent into position. The balloon catheter was then deflated and removed from the canaliculus. Dacryoendoscopy was used once again to assess the position of each stent after implantation.

The four canaliculi of one human cadaver were successfully identified, dilated, and intubated using drug-eluting coronary stents. Dacryoendoscopy confirmed that each stent achieved a satisfactory position within the canaliculi. The seamless integration of the stent with the surrounding tissues resulted in a significant dilation of the canaliculi. The procedure was deemed short and simple, with the time required to implant a stent into the canaliculus and asses its position being less than a minute.

Canalicular obstructions can often be a source of therapeutic challenges. Our pilot study shows that a drug-eluting coronary stent can be implanted with precision into the canaliculus of a human cadaver. We propose that at least some canalicular obstructions could be treated using a novel rigid mesh tube similar to drug-eluting coronary stents.