Simple Method of Silicone Tube Intubation with Pigtail Probe and Maintenance for Lacrimal Canalicular Repair.

Kang, Eun Taek; Burm, Jin Sik; Kim, Yang Woo

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 2004;31(4):584-588.
Published online July 1, 2004.

Simple Method of Silicone Tube Intubation with Pigtail Probe and Maintenance for Lacrimal Canalicular Repair.

Eun Taek Kang, Jin Sik Burm, Yang Woo Kim

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jsburm@ewha.ac.kr

Abstract

Silicone tube intubation with pigtail probe is one of the popular methods for lacerated canalicular repair. One of the major problems in this method is the difficulty of silicone tube insertion into the lumen of the lacerated canaliculus due to the large tip diameter of silicone tube itself, Also, long-term maintenance of silicone tube may cause conjunctival irritation and cosmetic problems. We could minimize the difficulty of silicone tube insertion by suture connection between a round-tip eyed pigtail probe and a silicone tube tip prepared like syringe needle tip for patients with lower lacrimal canalicular laceration. We could keep the silicone tube safely and effectively by inserting the anastomosis site of closed loop system into the upper punctum.

Keywords: Lacrimal canalicular repair; Pigtail probe; Closed loop system