Nasal Lacrimal Stent Finds Application in Treatment of Trauma, Infection, Malignancy, Thermal Injury, and Chemotherapy

 

Nasal Lacrimal Stent

Nasal lacrimal stents are small diameter tubes placed within the nasolacrimal system to maintain patency. These stents are developed using silk, silicone, nylon, polyethylene, and polypropylene. Today, the tubes are typically classified into bicanalicular stents and monocanalicular stents. Bicanalicular stents can be further divided into Crawford stent, Ritleng Stent, Pigtail/Donut stent, and Kaneka Lacriflow stent and monocanalicular stents can be further divided into Monoka Stent and Jones Tube.

Nasal lacrimal stent is used in the treatment of trauma, infection, malignancy, thermal injury, chemotherapy, radiation, and iatrogenic causes. According to January 2018 factsheet of the World Health Organization, 20–30% of older people who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries such as bruises, hip fractures, or head trauma, in the U.S. Thus, the demand for these stents is expected to be high in the U.S.

Nasal lacrimal stent is used in the treatment of epiphora, an overflow of tears onto the cheek due to improper drainage through the nasolacrimal system. Monocanalicular silicone stents can be effectively implemented and are easy-to-use. Use of these stents help in resolving congenital tear duct stenosis. These stent is highly effectives where previous probing was unsuccessful and where stenosis is longer or occurs in several localizations.

Nasal lacrimal stent made of polyurethane can be useful in the treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Retrograde placement of a hollow polyurethane nasolacrimal duct stent is a simple and well tolerated technique. The approach offers a high success rate for the treatment of primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction in adults.

Use of polyurethane nasal lacrimal stent without fluoroscopic guidance has also demonstrated effectiveness in primary management of nasolacrimal duct obstruction before dacryocystorhinostomy. The result is satisafatory especially at the junction between the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct or at the nasolacrimal duct.

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