Clinical outcome of endonasal KTP laser assisted dacryocystorhinostomy

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical outcome of primary endonasal laser assisted dacryocystorhinostomy (ENL-DCR) using the potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all primary ENL-DCRs performed within a period of twelve months by the same combined Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaringology team in Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. The main outcome measure for success was resolution or significant improvement of epiphora. Details of surgery, intraoperative and postoperative complications, as well as pathology associated with failure were also studied. Patients were followed up for at least 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 41 consecutive ENL-DCRs on 29 patients (22 females, 7 males, mean age 75 years) were analysed. All patients had bicanalicular silicone intubation for at least 4 months. The success rate at 12 months postoperatively was 78.1%. Pathology associated with failure included: intranasal pathology (12.2%), mucocele (7.3%), and systemic sarcoidosis (2.4%). No significant intra-operative complications were recorded. CONCLUSION: The ENL-DCR with potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser can be considered as a safe and efficient primary procedure for the treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction

ICAR: endoscopic skull‐base surgery

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Light-emitting diode effects on combined decellularization of tracheae. A novel approach to obtain biological scaffolds

PURPOSE:To obtain a decellularized tracheal scaffold associating traditional approaches with the novel light-emitting diode (LED) proposal.METHODS: This study was performed with New Zealand adult rabbits weighing 3.0 - 4.0 kg. Different protocols (22) were used combining physical (agitation and LED irradiation), chemical (SDS and Triton X-100 detergents), and enzymatic methods (DNase and RNase).RESULTS: Generally, the cells surrounding soft tissues were successfully removed, but none protocol removed cells from the tracheal cartilage. However, longer protocols were more effective. The cost-benefits relation of the enzymatic processes was not favorable. It was possible to find out that the cartilaginous tissue submitted to the irradiation with LED 630nm and 475 nm showed an increased number of gaps without cells, but several cells were observed to be still present.CONCLUSION: The light-emitting diode is a promising tool for decellularization of soft tissues.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Paulista State University Medical School Department of Surgery and OrthopedyHermínio Ometto University CenterUNESP School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Department of Bioprocess and BiotechnologyUNESP Medical School Blood Transfusion CenterPaulista University Department of Health ScienceUNESP Bioscience Institute Department of MorphologyUNESP Faculty of Science Department of Science BiologyUNESP Medical School Department of Surgery and OrthopedyUNESP Medical School Department of UrologyPaulista State University Medical School Department of Surgery and OrthopedyUNESP School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Department of Bioprocess and BiotechnologyUNESP Medical School Blood Transfusion CenterUNESP Bioscience Institute Department of MorphologyUNESP Faculty of Science Department of Science BiologyUNESP Medical School Department of Surgery and OrthopedyUNESP Medical School Department of Urolog