Retained stenting material: an unusual cause of dacryocystorhinostomy failure.

OBJECTIVE

To highlight a troubling cause of dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) failure and to alert ophthalmologists to the potential problems that can result when stenting material is not removed and becomes retained after DCR.

DESIGN

Consecutive noncomparative case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Twelve patients who underwent revision DCR from February 1994 to January 1997.

INTERVENTION

Endoscopic DCR, pre- and postoperative nasal endoscopy, preoperative computerized tomography (CT), and pre- and postoperative Jones testing.

RESULTS

Fourteen revision endoscopic procedures were performed on 12 patients with recurrent epiphora following DCR. Failure was due to retained stenting material in six patients, a small bony rhinostomy in three patients, excessive scar formation within the rhinostomy in two patients, and improper location of the rhinostomy in one patient. Preoperative endoscopy and CT scan each correctly identified the retained sponge or tubing in four of six patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Fastening a small sponge to Silastic tubing and positioning it within the DCR site in an attempt to retard DCR stenosis can be associated with a poor outcome and should be avoided. The nasal endoscope provided excellent visualization of pathology within the lacrimal sac and was a valuable tool. Retained stenting material should be considered in patients with persistent epiphora following DCR or intubation prior to any decision to commit a patient to permanent Jones tube placement.