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Biomedical subjects

P Flaharty

Publications and source records attributed to P Flaharty.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Transcanalicular neodymium: YAG laser for revision of dacryocystorhinostomy.

BACKGROUND: Laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) has failed to match the success rates of external DCR. It has been suggested that this technology may be best suited for revision of failed DCR cases. The authors prospectively evaluated the efficacy of transcanalicular laser-assisted revision DCR (TCLARDCR). METHODS: A neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser was used for transcanalicular revision of 24 failed DCRs. Failure had followed one (n = 15), two (n = 7), or three (n = 2) previous external DCRs. RESULTS: Mean duration of the surgery was 78.2 minutes. Success was achieved in 11 cases (46%; mean follow-up, 20 months). There was no correlation between early loss of stents and failure. Three cases had partial relief of symptoms. Three of the failures unsuccessfully underwent further TCLARDCR. CONCLUSIONS: The authors' success rate of 46% with TCLARDCR compares poorly with the 85% success for external revision DCR. With TCLARDCR, specific anomalies like the sump syndrome cannot be addressed adequately. There is a theoretical risk of canalicular injury. Laser lacrimal surgery also is equipment dependent and more costly than external DCR. The TCLARDCR cannot be recommended for revision DCR using the Nd:YAG laser (Lasersonics, Milpitas, CA).

Adult↗

Optic nerve decompression in cranial base fibrous dysplasia.

Fibrous dysplasia of the anterior cranial base involves the bony orbit and optic canal. Although fibrous dysplasia is benign, it may produce a mass effect along the course of the optic nerve, inducing visual disturbances. Optic canal decompression in patients without clinical signs of optic neuropathy is controversial. We describe five patients with extensive fibrous dysplasia of the anterior cranial base involving the orbit and optic canal. These patients underwent transcranial optic canal decompression before signs of severe visual loss during correction of dystopias and craniofacial deformity induced by fibrous dysplasia. Cranial orbital reconstruction was performed by means of split rib and cranial bone grafts. Postoperative follow-up did not reveal disturbances in visual function, extraocular motility, or evidence of cerebrospinal fluid fistulas. This suggests that early, radical resection of orbital fibrous dysplasia with optic canal decompression may be effective in preventing visual loss with minimal risk of other neurological sequelae. Subsequent orbital reconstruction involving split-thickness rib and cranial bone grafting yields satisfactory cosmetic results.

Adolescent↗