[Dacryocystorhinostomy with a counteropening in the treatment of secondary nasolacrimal duct obstruction after radioiodine therapy]. / Dakriotsistorinostomiya s nalozheniem kontrapertury pri vtorichnoi obliteratsii slezootvodyashchikh putei vsledstvie terapii radioaktivnym iodom.

Among secondary forms of nasolacrimal duct obstruction caused by radioactive iodine therapy, its distal forms localized in the area of the Hasner's valve are predominant. In this regard, during dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) there is a high probability of developing the sump syndrome, for which the anatomical prerequisite is that the lower edge of the DCR ostium is above the level of obstruction. In such cases, we propose to supplement DCR with a counteropening in the area of the Hasner's valve. PURPOSE: This study analyzes the clinical effectiveness of dacryocystorinostomy with a counteropening. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The outcomes of 49 surgeries (49 patients) with secondary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction due to radioactive iodine therapy were analyzed, including 34 DCR and 15 DCR with a counteropening. The clinical outcomes were analyzed over the longest possible period after surgery. The analysis included the severity of tearing on the Munk scale, the characteristic of the formed ostium on the M. Ali scale and the height of the tear meniscus. Differences were considered significant at a confidence level of 95% (p≤0.05). RESULTS: Analysis of the results of the performed surgeries showed that DCR was clinically effective in 30 (88%) cases, DCR with a counteropening - in 15 (100%) cases. The differences were not statistically significant in the total sample, but were statistically significant when comparing the results of surgeries in patients with distal obliteration. CONCLUSION: The developed and clinically tested method of DCR with a counteropening in the area of the Hasner's valve was completely effective in 15 patients with secondary nasolacrimal duct obstruction caused by radioiodine therapy.

[Anatomical structure and morphometric parameters of the distal segment of the lacrimal drainage system]. / Anatomicheskoe stroenie i morfometricheskie pokazateli vertikal'nogo otdela slezootvodyashchikh putei.

The article analyzes the literature data concerning the anatomical structure of the tear ducts with a focus on morphometric studies of individual structures. It is noted that, despite the high information content of cadaveric studies, most of the information to date has been obtained with the use of intravital radiation visualization methods. It is shown that the lacrimal drainage system has age, gender, and racial characteristics. Most studies focus on features of the bone nasolacrimal canal, while there is a relative shortage of research devoted to soft-tissue nasolacrimal duct. The analysis showed that most of the studies are devoted to particular morphometric indicators, which makes it difficult to obtain a complete objective picture of the size of the tear duct. Information about its volume can be found only in a couple of studies. The numerical values of the obtained data vary, which can be explained by a different approach to the selection of research subjects, sample sizes, anatomical criteria and the calculation method of morphometric parameters. There are only a few studies on morphometric parameters of the nasolacrimal duct in healthy humans, which is extremely important for determining the pathogenesis of disorders of the patency of the lacrimal drainage system.

[Pharmacological prevention of fibrosis in dacryosurgery]. / Medikamentoznaya profilaktika fibrotizatsii v dakriokhirurgii.

Chronic inflammatory process in the lacrimal drainage system is the main etiological factor leading to dacryostenosis and consequent obliteration - partial and total nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Prevention of this process is an urgent problem in dacryology. Currently, there is very little research on the development and use of conservative methods for treating dacryostenosis using anti-inflammatory, as well as anti-fibrotic drugs. In this regard, the main method of treating lacrimal drainage obstruction is dacryocystorhinostomy. However, the problem of recurrence after this operation has not been resolved. The causes of recurrence can be cicatricial healing of dacryocystorhinostomy ostium, canalicular obstruction, formation of granulations and synechiae in its area. Surgical methods of recurrence prevention are associated with possible complications, and there is conflicting data on the feasibility of their use. Based on this, the development of pharmacological methods for the prevention of fibrosis in dacryology is promising, among which the antitumor antibiotic Mitomycin C is the most studied. However, there are no specific scientifically substantiated recommendations for the use of this drug, and the data on its effectiveness vary. This has prompted researchers to look for and study alternative anti-fibrotic agents, such as antitumor drugs, glucocorticoids, hyaluronic acid, small molecule, biological, immunological and genetically engineered drugs, as well as nanoparticles. This review presents the current data on the efficacy and prospects of the use of these drugs in dacryology.

Dynamic viscosity of the wall of the lacrimal sac in disorders of the patency of the lacrimal ducts.

PURPOSE: To assess the dynamic viscosity of the lacrimal sac wall in patients with various origins of lacrimal duct obstruction. METHODS: The study was performed in 35 cases: 21 cases with primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) and 14 cases with secondary nasolacrimal duct obstruction after radioiodine therapy (SALDO). The study of biomechanical properties of the lacrimal sac was carried out using a test bench. The principle of the study was to indent the sample at a given speed and record the data obtained from the sensor of the force transmitted to the sample. The area under the curve (AUC) and the peak viscosity were calculated. A qualitative characteristic of the obtained curve was given. RESULTS: Median AUC in patients with PANDO was 17 × 106 [6 × 106; 19 × 106] N/m2 × s, in patients with SALDO 21 × 106 [13 × 106; 25 × 106] N/m2 × s. Intergroup differences were statistically significant (p = 0,048). The median peak viscosity in PANDO patients was 29 × 106 [25 × 106; 35 × 106] N/m2, in patients with SALDO 32 × 106 [21 × 106; 41 × 106] N/m2. The qualitative characteristics of the obtained curves differed. CONCLUSION: Biomechanical properties of the lacrimal sac may vary depending on the cause of obliteration of the lacrimal ducts. The integrated dynamic viscosity is significantly higher in SALDO patients due to exposure to radioiodine compared to that in PANDO patients.

[Biometric characteristics of the lacrimal passages in healthy individuals and in patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction]. / Biometricheskie kharakteristiki slezootvodyashchikh putei v norme i pri dakriostenoze.

Despite an obvious interest in the processes occurring in the lacrimal passages in their obstruction, there is few articles analyzing their biometric parameters. PURPOSE: The study investigates the biometric characteristics of the lacrimal passages in healthy individuals and in patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 81 cases of partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction and 38 cases without tear drainage insufficiency. All patients underwent computed tomography with dacryocystography. Analysis of the biometric parameters involved calculation of the length, volume, and average sectional area of the nasolacrimal duct and the nasolacrimal bony canal. The ratio R4/16l was calculated (where R is the radius of the nasolacrimal duct; l is the length of the nasolacrimal duct). The normality of values was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Intergroup differences were assessed using the Mann-Whitney test and t-statistics for independent samples. Correlation analysis was performed according to the Spearman method. ROC analysis was carried out. Differences were considered significant at p≤0.05. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the volume (p=0.004) and the average sectional area of the nasolacrimal duct (p=0.014), as well as in the length of the nasolacrimal canal (p=0.034). Relationships were established between the age of patients without tear drainage insufficiency and the length of the nasolacrimal canal (p=0.042); the length of the nasolacrimal canal and the volume of the nasolacrimal duct (p=0.034), as well as the volume of the nasolacrimal duct and the nasolacrimal canal in partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction (p=0.017). The AUC of the R4/16l ratio in the ROC analysis was 0.653 (p=0.007). CONCLUSION: In addition to the obvious differences, it was found that the length of the nasolacrimal bony canal significantly differed in the subjects of both study groups. We considered the tear ducts as a hydrodynamic system obeying Poiseuille's law, so we calculated the ratio R4/16l. The value of this ratio varied (p=0.016), and the ROC analysis showed high sensitivity and specificity of the criterion. This makes it possible to use this ratio as a diagnostic criterion for partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

[Dynamic pathomorphological characteristics of the nasolacrimal duct in its stenosis]. / Dinamicheskaya patomorfologicheskaya kharakteristika nososleznogo protoka pri ego stenozirovanii.

OBJECTIVE: Pathological description of the process of stenosis of the nasolacrimal duct at its various stages. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material for the study was obtained from the wall of the nasolacrimal duct during surgery in 50 patients whose condition was attributed to the 1st, 2nd or 3rd clinical stage of dacryostenosis. The material was fixed in formalin and sent for pathohistological and immunohistochemical (IHC) studies. RESULTS: In the 1st stage, the integrity of the epithelium of the nasolacrimal duct was preserved, the density of goblet cells was reduced. Seromucinous glands were single in the lamina propria in the area of stenosis. Diffuse lymphoid-plasmacytic infiltration was observed along the periphery of the terminal sections of the glands and in the subepithelial zone. The infiltrate includes CD68+ tissue macrophages and CD20+ and CD3+ lymphocytes, with a predominance of B-lymphocytes over T-lymphocytes. In the 2nd stage, changes in the epithelial layer in the stenosis zone were detected. In the IHC study, only individual leukocytes were observed in these zones, and T cells were found mainly in the subepithelial zone, B cells - deeper, monocytes - evenly in all layers. In the adjacent zones, the picture of the infiltrate corresponded to the 1st stage. In the 3rd stage, fragments of the nasolacrimal duct wall were represented by dense fibrous connective tissue with pronounced atrophic changes, areas of squamous metaplasia or proliferation of the basal layer, goblet cells were not detected. There was no infiltrate in the area of stenosis during IHC study. In the cellular elements of the infiltrate in areas adjacent to the stenosis zone, CD20+ and CD3+ lymphocytes were present in equal proportions, the arrangement in layers corresponded to that of the 2nd stage. CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that dacryostenosis is a progressive pathological process associated with the progredient development of chronic productive inflammation in the lacrimal ducts.

[Disorders of lacrimal drainage: the way from theory to practice]. / Narushenie slezootvedeniya: put' ot teorii k praktike.

The article summarizes the results of research conducted over the past decade concerning the current problems of dacryology, analyzes the improvements made to the methods of diagnostics used in disorders of lacrimal passages on the basis of modern imaging and functional studies, describes the techniques aimed at improving the clinical effectiveness of the intervention, as well as drug and non-drug methods of intraoperative prevention of excessive scarring in the area of the artificial ostium. The article also analyzes the experience of using balloon dacryoplasty in relapses of tear duct obstruction after dacryocystorhinostomy, and presents the modern minimally invasive surgical techniques, including nasolacrimal duct intubation, as well as balloon dacryoplasty and endoscopic plastic surgery of the ostium of the nasolacrimal duct. Additionally, the work lists the fundamental and applied tasks of dacryology and outlines promising directions of its development.

[Cell cultures - model object for experimental studies in ophthalmology]. / Kletochnye kul'tury ­ model'nyi ob"ekt dlya eksperimental'nykh issledovanii v oftal'mologii.

The article presents results obtained on several types of model cultures. Primary cultures of corneal epithelial cells and fibroblast-like cells from the limbus were obtained from the tissues of the anterior eye segment. Tests were performed on these cultures to determine the cytotoxicity of antiglaucoma drugs and to trial a protection method. In addition, a comparative analysis of the regenerative potential of various blood derivatives was carried out. An in vitro culture of endotheliocytes showed a correlation between the degree of damaging effects of antiglaucoma drugs of various groups and the content of the preservative benzalkonium chloride in their composition. Corneal keratocytes were used to create a cell sheet reflecting the main structural features of the stroma and suitable for biomechanical tests. The antifibrotic activity of the drugs was tested on the culture of fibroblasts from the nasolacrimal duct. The conducted studies demonstrate that cell cultures can be used as an informative model object for researching the pathogenesis of ophthalmic diseases and for testing drugs.

[Optical coherence tomography in the diagnosis of pathologies of the horizontal portion of the lacrimal drainage system]. / Opticheskaya kogerentnaya tomografiya v diagnostike patologii gorizontal'nogo otdela slezootvodyashchikh putei.

This article reviews literature on the use of optical coherence tomography in studying the anatomical structure of the proximal lacrimal drainage system, as well as in diagnosing its pathological changes. Determining the reference values of the parameters of the lacrimal punctum and the lacrimal canaliculus remains an important issue. The review describes the advantages and disadvantages of this method, as well as the prospects for its application in clinical practice.

[Punctal stenosis: etiology, diagnosis, treatment]. / Stenoz sleznoi tochki: etiologiya, diagnostika, lechenie.

This article reviews etiological factors in the development of lacrimal punctal stenosis, modern diagnostic techniques, as well as both conservative and surgical treatment methods. The presented analysis is based on data from 67 literary sources, which provide information on conventional and high-tech examination and treatment methods of patients with lacrimal punctal stenosis. Particular attention is paid to various aspects of punctoplasty - the most common surgical intervention used to treat this pathology.

[The role of local antiseptics in the prevention of coronavirus infection during endonasal interventions on the lacrimal ducts]. / Rol' mestnykh antiseptikov v profilaktike koronavirusnoi infektsii pri endonazal'nykh vmeshatel'stvakh na sleznykh putyakh.

In connection with the pandemic of coronavirus infection, it is urgent to develop measures to prevent the intraoperative spread of coronavirus particles and infection of the operating room staff. OBJECTIVE: Generalization and analysis of available data concerning local antiseptic therapy for the prevention of coronavirus infection during endonasal interventions on the lacrimal tract. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The search for literature sources was carried out using MEDLINE search engines and the Russian Science Citation Index for queries with the keywords "COVID-19", "coronavirus infection", "antiseptics", "protocol for otorhinolaryngological operations", "dacryosurgical operations" and similar in various combinations. RESULTS: It has been shown that during endonasal operations on the lacrimal tract, the number of risk factors for infection increases, since these procedures are aerosol-generating, and contact occurs not only with the nasal mucosa, but also with the lacrimal fluid, in which the coronavirus is also replicated. The data on the effectiveness of various antiseptics are summarized, the analysis of the possibility of their use in preoperative preparation for endonasal interventions on the lacrimal tract from the point of view of efficacy and safety is carried out. Information is provided on the proprietary protocol for the use of antiseptics to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection during endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy. It is shown that the preventive use of local disinfectants reduces the number of viral particles on the nasal mucosa, which leads to a decrease in contamination of the surrounding space. Among the available and studied antiseptics, the most suitable is povidone-iodine, which can be used in concentrations up to 1.25% to irrigate the nasal mucosa before surgery with an exposure of 30-60 sec. When performing operations on the lacrimal pathways, it is also advisable to carry out antiseptic treatment of the conjunctival cavity with a 5% solution of povidone-iodine and rinse the lacrimal pathways before the operation with povidone-iodine in a concentration of 0.4%. CONCLUSION: To date, information has been obtained that makes it advisable to use antiseptics before performing endonasal aerosol-generating interventions, in particular endonasal dacryocystorhinostomies and recanalization of the tear ducts.

[Experimental investigation of the efficacy of pirfenidone in prevention of ostium cicatricial closure after dacryocystorhinostomy]. / Eksperimental'noe obosnovanie effektivnosti pirfenidona v predotvrashchenii rubtsovogo zarashcheniya iskusstvennogo soust'ya posle dakriotsistorinostomii.

One of the main reasons of failure of dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is cicatricial closure of the ostium. Finding a way to prevent this outcome remains one of the leading aims of research in dacryology. The effectiveness of the most widespread methods is often considered contradictory by various researchers. Pirfenidone is a small-molecule agent that demonstrated good antifibrotic effect and low toxicity in previous in vitro research. There haven't been any in vivo studies of its intraoperative use in DCR.Purpose - to determine the in vivo efficacy of pirfenidone in prevention of ostium cicatricial closure following dacryocystorhinostomy in an animal experiment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 18 Chinchilla rabbits. They were divided into 3 groups and each animal underwent modified dacryocystorhinostomy. On the final stage of surgery rabbits of group 1 were injected 1 ml of 0.15 mg/ml pirfenidone solution, rabbits of group 2 - 0.3 mg/ml pirfenidone solution. No injections were performed in group 3. Animals were terminated on days 7 (6 rabbits), 14 (6 rabbits) and 28 (6 rabbits) following surgery. Lacrimal stoma patency was evaluated in vivo by irrigation, and morphologically postmortem. Tissue samples obtained from the stoma area were examined histologically for signs of fibrosis. RESULTS: Failure of dacryocystorhinostomy was observed in 4 out of 18 cases: all rabbits of group 3 terminated on days 14 and 28. The most pronounced morphological signs of fibrosis were also noted in group 3. No topical or systemic adverse effects of the medication were observed in groups 1 and 2. CONCLUSION: Pirfenidone demonstrated high antifibrotic efficacy and low toxicity in experimental dacrycystorhinostomy in rabbits. These results provide grounds for further research into the use of pirfenidone in dacrycystorhinostomy.

[Modern methods in treatment of lacrimal system vertical part obliteration]. / Sovremennye metody lecheniya obliteratsii vertikal'nogo otdela slezootvodyashchikh putei.

A review of the literature is devoted to the description of modern methods in treatment of lacrimal system vertical part obliteration. Particular attention is paid to various aspects of the most common surgical intervention - endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.

[Modern methods in diagnostics of lacrimal system vertical part obliteration]. / Sovremennye metody diagnostiki obliteratsii slezootvodyashchikh putei.

A review of the literature is devoted to the description of modern diagnostic methods that are directed at detecting lacrimal pathway obstruction. The presented analysis is based on the study of data from Russian and foreign literary sources on both routine and high-tech lacrimal system examination methods, as well as on authors' experience in studying the diagnostic efficiency of imaging methods such as lacrimal scintigraphy, computed tomography with lacrimal pathway contrasting, and also single photon emission computed tomography. The article gives information about the advantages and disadvantages of the presented methods, highlights the questions of the prospects of their usage in practical dacryology.

[Retrobulbar hematoma in endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy]. / Retrobul'barnaya gematoma pri endoskopicheskoi endonazal'noi dakriotsistorinostomii.

Recently, an increase in the number of operations on the lacrimal ducts performed by otorhinolaryngologists has been noted throughout the world. During these operations, intra- and postoperative complications may develop, which require the intervention of an ophthalmologist. A rare complication of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy is the development of retrobulbar hemorrhage. This article presents a clinical case of the development of retrobulbar hemorrhage in endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy. The patient with dacryocystitis underwent endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy. Preoperative computed tomography revealed a lack of bone tissue in the lacrimal sac fossa. Severe bleeding was noted during the operation. Against the background of tamponade of the formed anastomosis, a growing exophthalmos, conjunctival chemosis, subconjunctival hemorrhage were noted. After removing the tampon, a positive trend was noted. Dexamethasone solution was intraoperatively intravenously administered, in the postoperative period - methylprednisolone solution. According to computed tomography data, exophthalmos persisted on the first day after the operation, hematoma was localized. Visual functions are unchanged. Six months after the operation, the patient had no complaints. According to the computed tomography data, a functioning dacryorhinostomy anastomosis was determined. Often, an interdisciplinary approach to such complications is required, since it can provide full orbital decompression, as well as adequate postoperative management of the patient, which contributes to the most complete ophthalmic rehabilitation. The interaction of otorhinolaryngologists and ophthalmologists in such cases is an indispensable condition for the safety of the operation.

[Meatoplasty - an effective method for surgical treatment of patients with nasolacrimal duct ostium stenosis]. / Meatoplastika - éffektivnyi sposob khirurgicheskogo lecheniia patsientov so stenozom ust'ia nososleznogo protoka.

The authors proposed a novel approach to the surgical correction of distal nasolacrimal duct stenosis - the meatoplasty of the nasolacrimal duct. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of the developed surgical technique in cases of nasolacrimal duct ostium stenosis. METHODS: 78 patients (90 cases) with nasolacrimal duct stenosis at the level of it's ostium were included and divided into three comparable groups depending on the type of performed surgery: - the meatoplasty of the nasolacrimal duct in group 1, the meatoplasty with concomitant recanalization and bicanalicular silicone intubation of nasolacrimal duct by Ritleng in group 2 and recanalization with bicanalicular silicone intubation of nasolacrimal duct by Ritleng in group 3. A comparative analysis of the surgical treatment effectiveness of the patients of three groups was carried out. RESULTS: The best effectiveness of treatment was noted in group 2 (positive outcomes in 90.0% of cases). The positive outcomes were obtained in 76.7% of cases in group 1 and in 66.7% of cases in group 3. CONCLUSION: The developed surgical technique of meatoplasty with concomitant recanalization and bicanalicular silicone intubation of nasolacrimal duct is a highly-efficient and safe minimally invasive method for treatment of nasolacrimal duct ostium stenosis and it can be recommended in a wide clinical practice.

[The nasal mucosa and outcomes of dacryocystorhinostomy]. / Sostoianie slizistoi obolochki polosti nosa i rezul'taty dakriotsistorinostomii.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of the nasal mucosa on the outcomes of dacryocystorhinostomy on the basis of morphologic findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The investigation enrolled 73 patients who had undergone endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy. Nasal mucosal biopsies were intraoperatively taken from all the patients. The obtained samples were subjected to standard histological examination, as well as to immunohistochemical study using an anti-alpha-smooth muscle actin antibody. To determine the intensity of inflammation in the tissue sample, a chronic inflammation score was calculated. The cell elements positively stained with α-smooth muscle actin were estimated using a semi-automatic method. The patients were divided into groups in accordance with the outcome of surgical treatment after 6 months. RESULTS: An unfavorable outcome of dacryocystorhinostomy was observed in 10 (13.7%) patients. The samples obtained from the patients showed a higher chronic inflammation score (8.33%) and a larger number of the cell elements positively stained with α-smooth muscle actin (6026.38±1944.29). The correlation between the outcome of surgical intervention and the quantitative characteristics of myofibroblasts was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These studies suggest that there is a direct correlation of the efficiency of endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy with the presence and degree of chronic nasal mucosal inflammation at baseline.

Causes of unsatisfactory results of the use of mitomycin-C in endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy.

PURPOSE: To study the antifibrotic effectiveness of mitomycin-C in the tissues of the ostium site after it application for endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 45 patients (48 cases) with primary obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct. All patients underwent endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (EEDCR). At the final stage of the operation, a swab with MMC was placed in the region of the formed ostium at a concentration of 0.2 mg/ml for 3 min. An ostium was not intubated. After that, biopsies of the mucous of the nasal cavity and lacrimal sac were performed to study the morphological changes that occur in the tissues overtime, as well as to calculate the concentration of the drug in the tissues. RESULTS: According to the chemical analysis, the concentration of MMC immediately after application was 0.626 ± 0.176 µg/g; after 30 min the concentration of the drug was reduced to 0.23 ± 0.06 µg/g; a day after the operation the drug was not found in the tissue samples. Morphological study established that the repair processes occurring in the mucosa of the nasal cavity and the lacrimal sac after EEDCR are similar to the reparative processes without the use of MMC. The effectiveness of surgical treatment: "positive results" - 77.1% of cases, "relapses" - 22.9% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Application of MMC for prevention of excessive scarring after EEDCR is impractical as it is not possible to achieve antifibrotic concentration of the drug at dacryocystorhinostomy ostium site using this method.