Efficacy of mitomycin-C irrigation after balloon dacryocystoplasty.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of mitomycin-C irrigation after balloon dacryocystoplasty in the treatment of epiphora caused by obstruction of the lacrimal system.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-five lacrimal systems in 33 patients with obstruction of the lacrimal system were assigned to one of two groups: 17 lacrimal systems were irrigated with mitomycin-C after balloon dacryocystoplasty (mytomycin-C group), and 18 were not irrigated with mitomycin-C after balloon dacryocystoplasty (non-mitomycin-C group). In the mitomycin-C group, the lacrimal systems were irrigated with 0.2 mg/mL mitomycin-C via the inferior lacrimal punctum in three different sessions: immediately, 1 week, and 1 month after balloon dacryocystoplasty. The cumulative patency rates after balloon dacryocystoplasty were calculated by using the Kaplan-Meier method and were compared between the two groups with use of the log-rank test.

RESULTS

Balloon dacryocystoplasty and subsequent mitomycin-C irrigation were technically successful in all lacrimal systems. There were no side effects or complications associated with mitomycin-C use. The cumulative patency rate in the mitomycin-C group was significantly higher than that in the non-mitomycin-C group after balloon dacryocystoplasty (P = .0150, log-rank test).

CONCLUSIONS

Mitomycin-C irrigation is safe and effective in increasing the patency rate of the lacrimal system after balloon dacryocystoplasty.