| 본문 : Purpose: To report the effeactiveness and outcomes of a new technique using pigtail probe in treatment of congenital or acquired punctal occlusion.
Materials and Methods: In a retrospective study, five patients with punctal occlusion who had undergone punctoplasty and silicone tube intubation using pigtail probe were reviewed.
We probed the normal punctum with a pigtail probe and progressed until the pigtail probe had tented into the occluded punctal area. The tented area was then incised with a No. 11 blade tip or penetrated by pushing the pigtail probe itself. We then inserted silicone tube to prevent recurrence of punctal occlusion.
Results: In all five patients, the occluded punctum was successfully re-opened with this method. Four months after the operation, the silicone tube was removed and the punctum remained patent thereafter. Additionally, lacrimal drainage through the punctum remained intact and symptomatic tearing improved in all five patients.
Conclusion: Punctoplasty using the pigtail probe seems to be a safe and effective method for identifying and repairing occluded puncta. |