Comparison of the extrusion rate of Crawford tubes

Kira L Segal; Sarah H Van Tassel; Charles Kim; Nicole Hsu; Ashutosh Kacker; Gary J Lelli Jr

doi:10.3980/j.issn.2222-3959.2015.04.26

Comparison of the extrusion rate of Crawford tubes

Int J Ophthalmol. 2015 Aug 18;8(4):791-3. doi: 10.3980/j.issn.2222-3959.2015.04.26. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Kira L Segal¹, Sarah H Van Tassel¹, Charles Kim¹, Nicole Hsu², Ashutosh Kacker², Gary J Lelli Jr¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York 10021, USA.
² Department of Otolaryngology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York 10021, USA.

PMID: 26309881
PMCID: PMC4539631
DOI: 10.3980/j.issn.2222-3959.2015.04.26

Abstract

Aim: To compare the outcomes of dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) using traditional Crawford tubes (TCT) and Crawford tubes with suture (CTS) in the lumen.

Methods: Retrospective case series consisting of patients who underwent DCR between 2008 and 2013.

Results: A total of 61 DCRs were performed on 50 patients. Patients who underwent DCR using CTS had higher rates of prolapse compared to the TCT group (50% vs 9.4%; P=0.003). Stent removal occurred earlier in patients who received CTS (3.3mo vs 5.1mo; P=0.004). Success rates were equivalent between the two groups (75% vs 81.1%; P=0.684).

Conclusion: CTS in the lumen increases the risk of prolapse, prompting earlier tube removal in patients following DCR for nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO). Earlier removal of tubes does not appear to significantly decrease success rates.

Keywords: dacryocystitis; dacryocystorhinostomy; nasolacrimal duct obstruction.