Analysis of 43 Cases of Difficulties in Removing Artificial Nasolacrimal Duct Stents after Implantation

To explore the causes of difficulties in removing artificial nasolacrimal duct stents after implantation, analyze the bony structural characteristics of the nasolacrimal duct and its impaction causes, and study the structural features of the nasolacrimal duct under paranasal sinus CT, so as to provide references for clinical practice. The clinical data of 43 patients (44 sides) with difficulties in removing artificial nasolacrimal ducts after implantation from October 2018 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including the patients' age, concurrent diseases, catheterization time, etc. The removal of the nasolacrimal duct was performed under nasal endoscopy, and 40 patients underwent paranasal sinus CT examination. Among the 44 cases of difficult tube removal, 43 cases were successfully removed, and 1 case was not removed. The reasons for the difficulties included the detachment or inversion of the traction wire (30 cases), the impaction of the tube head ring (11 cases), the fracture of the nasolacrimal duct due to long - term catheterization (1 case), and suture fixation during the catheterization operation (1 case). The difficulties in removing artificial nasolacrimal duct stents are related to factors such as the position of the traction wire, the impaction of the tube body, the degeneration of the nasolacrimal duct, and nasal diseases. Feasible solutions were also explored. The bony structural characteristics of the nasolacrimal duct, such as narrowness, curvature, and the influence of surrounding bones, increase the difficulty of tube removal. The paranasal sinus CT of 40 cases can show that the structure of the some nasolacrimal duct is different from that of the normal nasolacrimal duct. The research suggests that clinicians should comprehensively consider various factors to optimize the treatment strategy, providing a reference for clinical surgeries.