Abstract
Objective:
to evaluate and to compare the success rate of monocanalicular or bicanalicular intubation in congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNDO) carriers in terms of success rate, difficulty of the procedure, and cost of the tubes.
Methods:
fifty-four CNDO carriers with 58 obstructed lacrimal vies (LV) who were submitted to lacrimal system intubation using mono or bicanalicular stent had their medical records analyzed. A clinical history, a general ophthalmologic examination, specific tests such as the fluorescein dye disappearance test (FDDT) and observation test of fluorescein in the oropharynx (OTFO) were used for diagnosis and inclusion in the study. Patients who continued exhibiting discharge and continuous epiphora after previous treatment, Crigler massage and probing, were treated surgically with intubation.
Results:
Monocanalicular intubation was performed on 27 LV and bicanalicular intubation was performed on 31 LV. High success rates were observed, with improvement in 26 (96.3%) with monocanalicular intubation and in 30 LV (96.8%) with bicanalicular intubation (p=0.718). Furthermore, both techniques were 100% successful in patients up to 2 and over 4 years of age (p=1). The success rates between 2-4 years of age were 91.6% in monocanalicular intubation and 87.5% in bicanalicular intubation (p=0.652).
Conclusion:
The success rate using monocanalicular or bicanalicular intubation to treat CNDO had no significant difference in the studied children. Furthermore, the monocanalicular tube was easier to use, while the bicanalicular tube had a lower cost.
Keywords:
Nasolacrimal duct obstruction/surgery; Nasolacrimal duct obstruction/ congenital; Congenital abnormalities; Diseases of the lacrimal drainage system; Nasolacrimal duct
