Comparison of Secondary Surgical Methods in Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction after Failed Primary Probing

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Evaluate the surgical results and clinical value of monocanalicular stenting (Monaka(R))(FCI Ophthalmics, Marshfield Hills, MA, U.S.A) and balloon catheter dacryoplasty (DCP) using PTCA balloon (Stormer(R)) for congenital nasolacrimal duct (NLD) obstruction in children. METHODS: The authors performed monocanalicular stenting (Monaka(R)) and balloon catheter (Stormer(R)) DCP as a secondary treatment of 25 children (27 lacrimal systems) over 12 months of age who had undergone ineffective probing treatment. The patients were followed up over 3 months and the postoperative outcome was assessed by fluorescein dye test. RESULTS: Nine of eleven children (nine of eleven lacrimal systems, 81.8%) and seven of nine children (seven of nine lacrimal systems, 77.7%) showed objective and subjective improvement, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Monocanalicular stenting and balloon dacryoplasty are excellent secondary treatments for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction after initial probing and irrigation surgery have been failed. Balloon dacryoplasty is a new procedure in improve the life-quality and reduce the complications rather than monocanalicular stenting.