Abstract: Abstract: Objective To evaluate the effect of annular electrode lacrimal duct reconstruction in improving the safety and efficacy
of nasolacrimal duct stent implantation for treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Methods This randomized clinical trial
was performed to compare the efficacy, success rate of intubation, time used for stent implantation, intraoperative pain, and
extubation-assciated complications between nasolacrimal stent implantation with and without annular electrode lacrimal duct
reconstruction. Results A total of 119 eligible patients were enrolled in this trial. The total curative rate at 6 months of follow up
after extubation was 70.9% (83/117) in these patients, and was significnatly higher in pateinets with lacrimal duct reconstruction
than in those without [80.6% (54/67) vs 58.0% (29/50); χ2=7.093, P<0.05]. The total success rate of stent implantation was 98.3%
(117/119) in all the patients initially enrolled, and two patients experienced failure of stent implantation and were excluded; the
success rate was signfiicantly higher in patients initially enrolled in the lacrimal duct reconstruction group (χ2=6.282, P<0.05).
The median time required for intubation was shorter in lacrimal duct reconstruction group (12 s vs 33 s; Z=-36.722, P<0.05). The
intendity of intraoperative pain was comparable between the two groups (t=0.833, P=0.405). The total rate of puncta injury was
43.6% (51/117) in these patients and similar between the two groups (χ2=1.459, P=0.227). The total rate of extubation difficulty
was 9.4% (11/117) in all the patients, and was lower in lacrimal duct reconstruction group [4.5% (3/67) vs 16% (8/50); χ2=4.463, P<
0.05]. Stent breakage in extubation occurred in 4.3% (11/117) of the patients with similar rates between the two groups (χ2=2.964,
P=0.085). Spearman bivariate correlation analysis showed that the time required for intubation was inversely correlated with
the treatment efficacy (r=-0.584, P<0.05) and positively with the occurrence of extubation difficulty (r=0.491, P<0.05); extubation
difficulty was inversely correlated with the curative effect (r=-0.511, P<0.05). Conclusion Annular electrode nasolacrimal duct
reconstruction can increase the safety and efficacy of nasolacrimal duct stent implantation for treatment of
nasolacrimal duct obstruction.