First results of balloon dacryoplasty in dacryostenosis

Background. Outpatient care is not widely spread in modern dacryology. At the same time, its necessity increases. There are no evidences of balloon dacryoplasty (BDP) application in Russian periodical literature. Material and methods. 50 surgical procedures in 30 patients with partial nasolacrimal duct obliteration were performed, among them 30 BDP without lacrimal pathways intubation (group 1) and 20 with bicanalicular Ritleng intubation of lacrimal pathways (group 2). Lacrimal scintigraphy, single photon emission computed tomography, combined with X-ray computed tomography, subjective tearing estimation in points, and health depending quality of life evaluation wre performed in all cases. Same tests were repeated in 3 months after surgery. Results. A positive outcome rate was 90 % in both groups. There were no complications in group 1. A single case of stent dislocation was recorded in group 2. Conclusion. BDP is an effective procedure in dacryostenosis of the lacrimal pathways vertical part obliteration. This procedure helps to avoid complications associated with long stent retention. It is possible to get good functional results even at short term after BDP surgery, and there is a possibility for this procedure to be carried out in an outpatient setting.

lacrimal pathways, dacryostenosis, balloon dacryoplasty, nasolacrimal duct intubation