| Goldstein
SM, Katowitz JA, Syed NA.
Department of Ophthalmology, Children's
Hospital of Philadelphia and Scheie Eye Institute, University
of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
PURPOSE: To examine the histopathologic
effects of balloon dacryoplasty on the
nasolacrimal duct of the rabbit.
METHODS: Sixteen nasolacrimal ducts of 8
infant white New Zealand rabbits were divided into 3 treatment
groups: a control group, a 2 mm balloon dilation group, and
a 3 mm balloon dilation group. The LacriCath balloon catheter
(Quest, Medical, Allen, TX) was used for nasolacrimal duct
dilation according to the manufacturer's recommended human
protocol. The rabbits were euthanized at 1, 3, and 7 days
after treatment and the nasolacrimal ducts were harvested
for histological examination.
RESULTS: There were no significant differences
between treatment groups in the number of neutrophils in the
lumen, epithelium, and stroma of the duct; the number of monocytes
in the stroma of the duct; or in the number of red blood cells
in the stroma of the duct. No differences were found in overall
cellularity of any type in the nasolacrimal ducts of treated
and untreated rabbits. Finally, no histopathologic signs of
crush injury were evident.
CONCLUSION: Balloon dacryoplasty does not
induce significant inflammation or crush injury in the nasolacrimal
duct of a rabbit model.
J AAPOS. 2006 Aug;10(4):333-5.
Back to Publications
|
