Outcome of Nasolacrimal Duct Intubation in Children Between 1-4 Years of Age with Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction

Abstract

Background: The most common cause of epiphora in infants is congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction; the two most common surgical treatment options are probing and silicone intubation. The purpose of this descriptive case series was to ascertain the success rate of nasolacrimal duct silicone intubation in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) aged 1-4 years.

Material and method: This study was carried out in the Department of Ophthalmology, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, from 20 June 2016 to 20 November 2017. A total of 36 children (age 4 and under) who qualified for the study were enrolled. All the participants were silicone intubated and followed up for six months after a detailed history taking and physical examination.

Result: A total of 36 children diagnosed with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) were included, with an average age of 2.31 ± 1.19 years. Out of these, 27 (75.0%) were male, and 9 (25.0%) were female. Overall, silicone intubation was effective for 21 patients (58.3%; 95% CI: 42.2%–72.9%). The success of the treatment was higher among children aged ≤2 years (21/22, 95.5%) than in those aged >2 years (0/14, 0%) (Fisher’s exact test, p < 0.001). No significant association was found between the gender of the child and treatment success, with success rates of 55.6% in males and 88.9% in females (Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.56).

Conclusion: Silicone intubation shows moderate success, with significantly better outcomes in children under 2 years.