Usefulness of a Hook in Nasolacrimal Balloon Dilatation and Stent Placement

Kim, Tae Hyung; Song, Ho Young; Son, Jin Hyun; Park, Sang Soo

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the usefulness of a hook developed for pulling out the guide wire in nasolacrimal balloon dilatation and stent placement.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The head was made of stainless steel wire in ashape of a question mark, and the body was made of four stainless steel pipes. The head was attached to the body in three different ways : A) the head was anterior to the body, B) the head was posterior to the body, and C) the head was angled of 30 degrees forward from the direction of the body. 90 epiphora patients took part in a test tocompare and evalvate the usefulness of different types of hook. Average number of trials, success rate and average time of the procedure were recorded.
RESULTS
The average trial number for different attachment methods A, B, andC was 4.5, 6.4, and 2.5, respectively, and the success rate 83, 70, and 97%, respectively. The average time of the procedure was 31 minutes.
CONCLUSION
The C type hook was the most effective, and the new technique using the hook was more convenient and time-saving than the old technique using a nasal endoscopy.