Initial nasolacrimal duct probing in children under age 5: Cure rate and factors affecting success

• Published in: Journal of AAPOS Vol. 6; no. 6; pp. 360 - 363
• Main Authors: Kashkouli, Mohsen Bahmani, Kassaee, Abolfazl, Tabatabaee, Ziaeddin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01.12.2002
• Subjects: Age Factors; Child, Preschool; Dacryocystitis - etiology; Dacryocystitis - surgery; Dacryocystorhinostomy; Female; Humans; Infant; Intubation - methods; Lacrimal Duct Obstruction - congenital; Male; Nasolacrimal Duct - surgery; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures - methods; Prospective Studies; Reoperation; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1091-8531; 1528-3933
• DOI: 10.1067/mpa.2002.129041

Aims: To evaluate the success rate of initial probing and the factors affecting the success rate for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO)in children under the age of 5 years. Methods: In a prospective uncontrolled interventional case series, 207 eyes from 161 consecutive patients with CNLDO underwent nasolacrimal duct probing under brief general anesthesia. Based on exclusion criteria, 180 eyes from 139 patients were included in the study. Diagnoses were made according to the patients' histories, clinical examinations, and modified dye disappearance tests. The state of the punctum, the canaliculus, the sac, and the nasolacrimal duct were recorded. The main outcome measure was the complete disappearance of tearing and discharge in the affected eye. The patients were followed at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. Results: The age range was 5 to 60 months (mean, 19.1 ± 11.2 months). The cure rates were 92% in the first year, 84.5% in the second year, 65% in the third year, and 63.5 in the fourth and fifth years of age. The patient's age, nonmemberanous CNLDO, and canalicular stenosis were correlated with the success of initial nasolacrimal duct probing (P <.05). Conclusions: Based on the results, simplicity of probing, and absence of significant complications, initial nasolacrimal duct probing is advised up to the age of 5 years. Increasing age, nonmembranous CNLDO, and canalicular stenosis increase the failure rate (P <.05). (J AAPOS 2002;6:360-3)