Variation of the minimally invasive CDCR technique.

Purpose: Traditional (tCDCR) and endoscopic conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (eCDCR) are challenging surgical techniques requiring general anesthesia, a facial incision, and a large osteotomy and mucosal flap. Minimally invasive CDCR (miCDCR) techniques eliminate the need for some of the steps in t/eCDCR. Introduced here is a variation of the miCDCR technique using a Naugle-Fleming knurled dilator (NKD) to create the osteotomy and instruments within a central line catheter kit to help easily place or replace a Jones' tube into position within a bony conduit.Methods: This IRB-approved retrospective chart review examined all patients who underwent this miCDCR technique performed by two oculoplastic surgeons at Hamilton Eye Institute at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center from 2014 to 2016. Inclusion criteria: need for CDCR (either primary or repeat). Exclusion criteria: loss to follow up prior to six months. Primary endpoints: operative time, incidence of tube migration and complications, and cessation of epiphora.Results: Sixteen patients (nine men, seven women) were reviewed, with three undergoing bilateral procedure, totaling 19 cases. Age range: 47.0 to 84.0 years, average of 66.6 years (SD = 11.1). Ten patients had surgery under local/MAC augmented with IV sedation, and six had general anesthesia (38%). Average operative time was 17.4 min (SD = 10.9). One patient (5%) required revision in the six-month immediate post-operative period because of tube migration. All patients had cessation of epiphora.Conclusions: This procedure can be done safely and quickly without general anesthesia, resulting in a satisfactorily lower rate of tube migration and cessation of epiphora rates.

Surgical Outcome of Epicanthus and Telecanthus Correction by Double Z-Plasty and Trans-Nasal Fixation with Prolene Suture in Blepharophimosis Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Blepharophimosis Syndrome (BPES) is a complex and rare disease characterized by epicanthus inversus, telecanthus, lateral ectropion, narrowed or shortened inter-palpebral fissure distance and ptosis. It is mostly bilateral and may or may not be symmetrical. It is typically inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. In sporadic cases, the disease may occur without a prior family history as a genetic mutation from a deletion or translocation of the FOXL2 gene, which maps to chromosome 3q23. Surgical treatment of this disease poses an oculoplastic challenge due to multiple complex eyelid deformities. AIM: To evaluate the functional and cosmetic outcome of telecanthus and epicanthus correction by a Mustarde's rectangular double Z-Plasty and trans-nasal fixation using 1-0 prolene suture in BPES. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was prospective, interventional study of 16 patients over a period of three years. In this study, all patients had BPES with prominent epicanthus and telecanthus. Mustarde's double Z-plasty and trans-nasal fixation with 1-0 prolene suture was performed in the first of a two-stage operation. If ectropion was present, the lateral ectropion was corrected by a base-out flap transfer from the upper eyelid to the lower eyelid. After three months, a 2nd stage was undertaken, involving a lateral canthoplasty for horizontal widening of a short palpebral fissure and a tarso frontalis sling with silicone rod for correction of moderate to severe ptosis. Patients were followed up for six months to one year with postoperative ophthalmologic examinations and photographs. RESULTS: Out of 16 patients, 10 were females and six were males. All the patients had bilateral involvement. In this study preoperative Inner Intercanthal Distance (IICD) ranged from 38 mm to 42 mm and the mean IICD was 41.2±0.57 mm. Postoperative IICD ranged from 31 mm to 34 mm. Horizontal Palpebral Fissure Length (HPFL) ranged from 20 mm to 23 mm and the mean value of HPFL was 21.50 mm preoperatively. Postoperative HPFL ranged from 26 mm to 29 mm and had a mean value of 28.50 mm, which was much improved after a combined correction of telecanthus and lateral canthoplasty. The mean preoperative IICD and HPFL ratio was 1.77 and was reduced to a postoperative value of 1.2. The Marginal Reflex Distance1 (MRD-1) test value improved from +1.25 mm to +3.50 mm postoperatively after placement of a tarsofrontalis sling with silicone rod using the Fox's Pentagon technique. In this study, two eyes had minimal unequal correction but were cosmetically and functionally acceptable. Correction of IICD is possible up to 6 mm. No major complication e.g., CSF rhinorrhea was noted in this series and preoperative prominent epicanthal folds were abolished. CONCLUSION: Here we propose a two-staged procedure involving a combined Mustarde's double Z-plasty with transnasal fixation using a 1-0 prolene suture with a flap transfer from the upper lid to the lower lid in the first stage and a lateral canthoplasty with a tarsofrontalis sling and silicone rod in the second stage. This technique is effective to correct epicanthus, telecanthus, ptosis and lateral ectropion in BPES with good cosmetic and functional outcome.

Toxicity comparison of intraocular azithromycin with and without a bioadhesive delivery system in rabbit eyes.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the addition of a bioadhesive drug-delivery system to topical azithromycin induces intraocular inflammation and damage when introduced intraocularly by different approaches and in varying doses. SETTING: John A. Moran Eye Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. DESIGN: Experimental study. METHODS: Commercial topical azithromycin 1.0% was duplicated, including the benzalkonium chloride, but without inclusion of the Durasite bioadhesive drug-delivery system. Injections of 50 µL, 25 µL, and 10 µL of the antibiotic solutions were administered in a masked fashion to 2 rabbits; 1 eye (study eye) in each rabbit was randomized to receive azithromycin with the delivery system and the fellow eye (control eye) to receive azithromycin without the delivery system. Two rabbits had topical drops of each solution placed after a 2.8 mm incision was created. Masked slitlamp examinations, pachymetry, and intraocular pressure (IOP) were determined 1 day and 2 days postoperatively. The animals were humanely killed, and the endothelial density and histopathology were examined. RESULTS: The IOP (P<.001), pachymetry (P<.001), and signs of inflammation (P=.38 to .003) were consistently higher in the study eye, especially at the 50 µL dose, than in the control eye. This was confirmed by histopathology. CONCLUSION: If the drug-delivery system gains access to the anterior chamber, it may cause substantial corneal edema and inflammation, even at low doses and after topical administration.

Decreased function of voltage-gated potassium channels contributes to augmented myogenic tone of uterine arteries in late pregnancy.

Increased pressure-induced (myogenic) tone in small uteroplacental arteries from late pregnant (LP) rats has been previously observed. In this study, we hypothesized that this response may result from a diminished activity of vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) voltage-gated delayed-rectifier K(+) (K(v)) channels, leading to membrane depolarization, augmented Ca(2+) influx, and vasoconstriction (tone). Elevation of intraluminal pressure from 10 to 60 and 100 mmHg resulted in a marked, diltiazem-sensitive rise in SMC cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) associated with a vasoconstriction of uteroplacental arteries of LP rats. In contrast, these changes were significantly diminished in uterine arteries from nonpregnant (NP) rats. Gestational augmentation of pressure-induced Ca(2+) influx through L-type Ca(2+) channels was associated with an enhanced SMC depolarization, the appearance of electrical and [Ca(2+)](i) oscillatory activities, and vasomotion. Exposure of vessels from NP animals to 4-aminopyridine, which inhibits the activity of K(v) channels, mimicked the effects of pregnancy by increasing pressure-induced depolarization, elevation of [Ca(2+)](i), and development of myogenic tone. Furthermore, currents through K(v) channels were significantly reduced in myocytes dissociated from arteries of LP rats compared with those of NP controls. Based on these results, we conclude that decreased K(v) channel activity contributes importantly to enhanced pressure-induced depolarization, Ca(2+) entry, and increase in myogenic tone present in uteroplacental arteries from LP rats.

Upregulation of endothelial cell Ca2+ signaling contributes to pregnancy-enhanced vasodilation of rat uteroplacental arteries.

Normal pregnancy is characterized by an increased uterine blood flow due to growth and remodeling of the maternal uterine vasculature and enhanced vasodilation of the uterine arteries. The objective of the present study was to examine the role of endothelial cell Ca2+ signaling in augmented endothelium-mediated vasodilation of uteroplacental arteries in late pregnancy. We performed fura-2-based measurements of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells simultaneously with diameter in pressurized uterine arteries from nonpregnant (NP) and late-pregnant (LP) rats. Basal levels of endothelial cell [Ca2+]i were higher in arteries from LP rats compared with NP controls. Withdrawal of extracellular Ca2+ resulted in a decrease in the level of basal [Ca2+]i that was significantly larger in arteries of LP than NP rats. The rate of Mn2+ -induced quenching of fura-2 fluorescence was significantly elevated in late pregnancy, implicating augmented Ca2+ influx as a cause of increased basal levels of [Ca2+]i in endothelial cells. Elevation of intraluminal pressure resulted in a transient increase in endothelial [Ca2+]i that was markedly potentiated in late gestation. ACh-induced [Ca2+]i and vasodilator responses were significantly augmented in arteries of LP compared with NP rats and were abolished by BAPTA treatment, demonstrating a critical role of [Ca2+]i elevation in the production of endothelium-derived vasodilators. Together, these results indicate that late pregnancy is a state of enhanced basal and stimulated Ca2+ signaling in endothelial cells of uterine vessels, which may represent an important underlying mechanism for augmented vasodilation in the maternal uterine circulation.