| Past Issue | Volume 8, Number 6, December 2006 | | External Dacryocystorhinostomy for Paediatric Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction |
Rajat Maheshwari
Cataract, Orbit, Lacrimal and Oculoplasty Service, Shri Ganapati Netralaya, Jalna, India
Aim: To assess the results of anterior flap external dacryocystorhinostomy without silicone intubation in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
Patients and Methods: Clinical case records of 44 paediatric external dacryocystorhinostomies out of the total 1200 external dacryocystorhinostomies (3.75%) performed by an experienced lacrimal surgeon were reviewed. The age range was 4 to 14 years (mean, 8.7 years). Five children with less than 6 months’ follow-up were excluded from the study. The duration of follow-up ranged from 6 months to 40 months (mean, 12 months). None of the patients had lacrimal intubation and in all cases only the anterior flaps of the sac and nasal mucosa were sutured.
Results: The cause of dacryocystitis was congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in all children. All children had previous failed probing elsewhere. Success was defined as patent postoperative lacrimal irrigation or no regurgitation of fluid on pressure over the sac area and relief from presenting signs and symptoms. Success was achieved in 37 children (97.50%). None of the patients had any postoperative complications. Conclusions: Anterior flap external dacryocystorhinostomy has a good success rate in the paediatric age group. The study also indicates that routine silicone intubation seems questionable, although this issue needs to be studied further.
Key words: Dacryocystorhinostomy, Lacrimal duct obstruction, Nasolacrimal duct, Retrospective studies, Treatment outcome
Asian J Ophthalmol 2006; 8:242-244.
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