Polytetrafluoroethylene in lacrimal surgery

Complete obstruction of the canaliculus apparatus demands, lacrimal bypass surgery to link the conjunctival sac to the lacrimal sac or to the nose. the anastomosis of the conjunctivo-cysto-rhinostomy has to be kept open by a Jones tube or a hydrophilic lacrimal prosthesis. In the case of utilizing a polytetrafluoroethylene vascular graft, conjunctiva and lacrimal sac or conjunctiva and nasal mucosa can be connected by means of the PTFE-graft. the vascular prosthesis is interposed (in)between conjunctiva and the deeper lacrimal structures. Connective tissue grows into the fibrillary structure of the graft and the inner layer (lumen) is epithelialized from both ends (anastomosis). This material has been used successfully in cardiac-and thoracic surgery and has also proved helpful in lid-and orbital surgery. It is biocompatible and has not been extruded until now.