The extremely rare complex eye-reconstructive plastic surgery was performed by guest operator Dr. Maria Mihailova from France, specialist in plastic surgery of the eye, orbit, eyelids and lacrimal ducts, and Prof. Hristina Blagoeva - head of the Ophthalmology Clinic at MBAL "St. Sofia"
The patient was diagnosed with a tumor of the tear duct of the lower eyelid, which is an extremely poor and delicate location. After a biopsy done in another medical facility, the patient was referred for medical therapy.
However, the procedures carry the risk of reducing the secretion, damaging the tear duct, and so the tears flow out instead of reaching the nose. After consultation with Dr. Maria Mihailova, the patient was operated on in the "St. Sofia". The tumor was removed, the lacrimal canal was preserved by embedding a very fine tube, imperceptible to the naked eye, plastic surgery was performed on the eyelid. "The patient was under general anesthesia during the intervention. This is very important because applying local anesthesia carries the risk of spreading the tumor.
It takes a lot of professional experience to successfully solve such a complex case, in which a tumor in a delicate place is simultaneously removed, preserving the lacrimal canal and plastic surgery of the eyelid is performed,' says Dr. Mihailova. The patient is now recovering with her relatives.
A series of check-ups and consultations are coming up at the Ophthalmology Clinic of St. Sophia Medical Center. "People's psychology is different. They must be supported, receive the right advice and be taken care of before and after the operations, as the team of Prof. Hristina Blagoeva does," adds Dr. Maria Mihailova.