Bicanalicular Silicone Tube Intubation after Simple Probing in Common Canaliculus Obstruction

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the surgical outcome of silicone tube intubation after simple probing performed in obstruction of distal part of canaliculus or common canaliculus. METHODS: Silicone tube intubation was done in 24 patients with obstruction of distal part of canaliculus or common canaliculus, whose obstruction was readily opened by simple probing under mild pushing pressure and who had successful lacrimal irrigation after probing. Silicone tube was removed at about 6 months after operation and the epiphora improvement, dye disappearance test, and lacrimal irrigation test were evaluated at 2 month after the intubation and 2 months after the tube removal. RESULTS: The average of probing to perforate the obstructed canaliculus were 2.1. At 1 month after the intubation, epiphora was improved in 19 patients (79.2%), and 18 patients (75.0%) showed a grade 2+ or lower in dye disappearance test, and lacrimal irrigation was successful in 21 patients (87.5%). 2 months after the tube removal, epiphora was improved in 18 patients (75.0%), and 18 patients (75.0%) showed a grade 2+ or lower in dye disappearance test, and lacrimal irrigation was successful in 20 patients (83.3%). CONCLUSIONS: When the obstruction of distal part of canaliculus or common canaliculus is thin membranous nature, good surgical outcome can be expected by silicone tube intubation after simple probing using mild pushing pressure without other special procedure.