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Silicone tube affects normalization of conjunctival flora after dacryocystorhinostomy
Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009;25(2):136-138.
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While multiple factors contribute to the normalization of the conjunctival flora after dacryocystorhinostomy, the presence of a silicone tube increased the time by a significant number of weeks.
Patients with a silicone tube had normalization 6.2 weeks after dacryocystorhinostomy, while patients without the tube took 3.9 weeks (P < .0001), the study found.
Overall, the mean number of weeks to reach normalization was 4.5 (range, 3 to 8 weeks). Other significant factors in normalization were the type of organisms (P = .04) and colony count (P < .001), researchers said.
The study looked at 40 consecutive adult patients who had nasolacrimal duct obstruction and chronic dacryocystitis referred for dacryocystorhinostomy. Preoperatively, researchers examined conjunctival culture slides — one that wasinvolved and one that was normal - from each patient. Postoperatively, specimens from the involved side were taken until cultures were negative or the colony count was less than the normal side.
Lacrimal sac content cultures were taken during the dacryocystorhinostomy.