Long-term Outcome of Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction Treated with Nasolacrimal Polyurethane Stents (Song's Stent)

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was carried out to evaluate and investigate the long-term outcome of placement of 25 plastic nasolacrimal stents (Song's stents) without fluoroscopic guidance for the treatment of obstructed nasolacrimal ducts. METHODS: The medical records of 25 patients who had had Song's polyurethane stents placed between 1997 and 2003 were reviewed. The patients included 17 women and 8 men who ranged in age from 22 to 79 years (mean, 57.9 years). The mean follow-up period was 54 months. RESULTS: The overall technical success in this study was 92% (23 of 25 eyes), with a 91% (21 of 23 eyes) short-term success rate. Of the 21 stents deployed, at the end of this study, 20 stents (95%) had been occluded. The median duration of stent patency was 38 months. The interquartile range of stent patency (75%~25%) were 26 and 50 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although nasolacrimal stenting with Song's stents is a relatively simple and safe procedure and is a useful alternative in elderly patients or patients in poor general condition, nasolacrimal stenting with Song's stents does not meet the requirement of long-term efficacy for epiphora resolution.