Abstract Listings 2024

Purpose

To evaluate clinical outcomes of nasal endoscopy-guided bicanalicular intubation in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Methods

A retrospective study including 28 patients (32 eyes) who underwent nasal endoscopy-guided bicanalicular intubation for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. All patients underwent a detailed medical history, physical examination, complete ophthalmological, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) examinations, and preoperative assessment. Nasal endoscopy-guided bicanalicular intubation was performed under general anesthesia with the collaboration between an ophthalmologist and an otolaryngologist. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 3 to 108 months.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 4.5 years (range, 1 and 18). The sex ratio was 1.15. Involvement was unilateral in 84.4% of patients and bilateral in 14.2% of them. The presenting symptoms were clear tearing in 37.5% of cases and purulent tearing in 62.5% of cases. Ophthalmologic examination revealed purulent reflux on pressure at the inner angle in 70% of cases, inflammation of the skin overlying the lacrimal sac in 10% of cases, and conjunctivitis in 10% of cases. Positive bone contact was found in 100% of cases. The ENT examination showed purulent rhinorrhea in 2 cases, congested inferior turbinate in a one patient, and synechia on both sides in one patient. The main per-operative complication was minimal bleeding in 30% of cases. Postoperative complications included infectious complications in 12.5% of cases and externalization of the tube in 6.2% of cases. Treatment success was achieved in 84.4% of cases at one-year follow-up.

Conclusion

Nasal endoscopy-guided bicanalicular intubation in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction seems to be an effective technique that can be considered after failure of conservative treatment and lacrimal duct probing.

Additional Authors

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