Safety and efficacy of adjunctive intranasal mitomycin C and triamcinolone in endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.

One of the common causes of failure in dacryocystorhinostomy for nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) is mucosal scarring and fibrosis around the ostium. Steroid and mitomycin C (MMC) can potentially reduce scarring by their action on the inflammatory and proliferative phase of wound healing, respectively. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combined usage of adjunctive MMC and intranasal triamcinolone (TA) in endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EE-DCR). This is a retrospective interventional case series. All patients underwent mechanical EE-DCR in two regional hospitals in Hong Kong from January 2005 to December 2006 were included. All received intraoperative MMC application for 5 min and gelfoam soaked with TA onto the ostium. Main outcome measures include the anatomical and functional success rate at follow-up at least 6 months after operation. Other outcomes include complications occurred during and after operation. A total of 73 EE-DCR were performed in 69 patients. Three patients had simultaneous bilateral DCR; one had sequential DCRs for both sides. At the last follow-up, anatomical success was achieved in 68 cases (93 %) and both anatomical with functional success in 67 cases (92 %). No major complication was observed. Minor complications included asymptomatic mucosal adhesion between the nasal septum and lateral nasal wall in one patient and moderate secondary hemorrhage in another. EE-DCR with adjunctive MMC and TA is a safe and successful procedure for the treatment of NLDO.

Use of intravitreal dexamethasone implant in patients with cataract and macular edema undergoing phacoemulsification.

PURPOSE: To study the safety and efficacy of intravitreal dexamethasone implant in patients with cataract and macular edema undergoing phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. METHODS: Twenty-four eyes with macular edema secondary to diabetic retinopathy (diabetic macular edema [DME]) and retinal vein occlusion (RVO) were retrospectively reviewed. These eyes underwent phacoemulsification with IOL implantation and intravitreal dexamethasone implant 0.7 mg at the same setting between September 2012 and September 2013. Demographic data, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), intraocular pressure (IOP), surgical time, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: Twelve eyes had DME and 12 eyes had RVO (10 central RVO and 2 branch RVO). Median baseline logMAR BCVA was 1.0 (Snellen 20/200) and mean baseline CMT was 530.2 ± 218.9 µm. Median follow-up duration was 13 months. At last follow-up, median visual acuity improved significantly to 0.523 (Snellen 20/66) (p = 0.003) and CMT decreased to 300.7 ± 78.1 µm (p = 0.000). Median surgical time was 23 minutes. There were no intraoperative complications. In 12 eyes, macular edema recurred, requiring further treatment, and median time to recurrences was 21 weeks. One eye had raised IOP after second dexamethasone implant for recurrent macular edema. No major complication such as vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, or endophthalmitis occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Combined cataract surgery with intravitreal dexamethasone implant seems to be safe and effective in treating patients with cataract and macular edema in this small case series. A larger prospective study with longer follow-up is necessary to demonstrate the long-term benefit of this combined procedure.

Limited nasal septoplasty by ophthalmologists during endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy: is it safe?

PURPOSE: Significant deviated nasal septum (DNS) may preclude the performance of endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). The purpose of this study was to investigate the outcomes of limited nasal septoplasty in tackling signficant DNS performed by trained ophthalmologists during endonasal DCR. METHODS: In this retrospective interventional case series, the records of all patients requiring limited nasal septoplasty for significant DNS during endonasal DCR at 2 tertiary ophthalmic centers in Hong Kong during January 2006 to December 2007 were reviewed. Surgical outcomes, demographic factors, and intraoperative and postoperative details were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 25 septoplasties were performed in 25 patients (total of 28 DCR). After the nasal septoplasty, all nasal cavities had better exposure of the surgical site allowing completion of the endonasal DCR. At the latest follow-up, the anatomical and functional success rates of the endonasal DCR were both 96.4% (27/28). In one patient, septoplasty was complicated by asymptomatic mucosal adhesion between the lateral nasal wall and the nasal septum. CONCLUSIONS: In the hands of trained ophthalmic lacrimal surgeons, limited nasal septoplasty is an effective and safe procedure during endonasal DCR, allowing better exposure of the surgical field in patients with significant DNS.

Diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma associated with bilateral carotid-cavernous fistulas in an elderly woman.

A 74-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of left proptosis, left eye chemosis, left abducens nerve palsy and cervical lymphadenopathy. She was noted to have bilateral carotid cavernous fistulas and was treated with transvenous coil embolization. The diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was only confirmed 4 months later, despite a high index of suspicion, after clinical deterioration. This is, to our knowledge the first reported case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma associated with bilateral carotid cavernous fistulas.