Lacrimal balloon dilatation

Retrograde balloon dilatation under X-ray visualization presents a new way of treatment of incomplete postsaccal stenosis. These stenoses in the area of the nasolacrimal duct in adults exhibit a common factor of favorable circumstances in the prestenotic area for recurring inflammations. The treatment of these disorders was-up to now-limited to either a conservative therapy to control inflammation or surgically invasive measures. The new method of treatment enables us to dilate incomplete stenoses without any alteration of skin and without bleeding.After different functional tests a digital dacryocystography is performed using a computer controlled X-ray unit with a C-arc coupled to an image intensifying TV-system. This gives the indication for balloon dilatation. A balloon catheter set originaly designed for the PTCA (percutaneous, transluminal coronary angioplasty) is used. After placing the guiding wire via canaliculi and lacrimal sac into the nose antegradely the balloon catheter is retrogradely posit...