Clinical Application of Polyether Ester Urethane in Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical effect of intraoperative application of polyether ester urethane (Nasopore(R)) in endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy. METHODS: Endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy was performed on 77 eyes diagnosed with nasolacrimal duct obstruction between January 2010 and February 2011. Nasopore(R) was applied to the newly-formed internal lacrimal opening in the experimental group (41 eyes), and vaseline gauze was applied in the control group (36 eyes). For the evaluation of clinical effects regarding postoperative adhesion and stenosis of the internal lacrimal opening, subjective symptom improvement, lacrimal irrigation tests, and endoscopic examinations were performed at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, postoperatively. RESULTS: In subjective symptom improvement and lacrimal irrigation tests, differences between the 2 groups were not statistically significant. In endoscopic findings, the Nasopore(R) group showed significantly lower severity of adhesion and stenosis of the internal lacrimal opening at 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1 month after operation (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Application of the Nasopore(R) may effectively reduce initial postoperative adhesion or stenosis of the internal lacrimal opening after endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy and has usefulness as an auxiliary method.