“Pushed” Stent Intubation for Treatment of Complex Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction

Abstract

Purpose

To assess the success rate of pushed stent intubation in children with complex congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO).

Methods

This prospective study was performed in a single academic center. Forty-four eyes with complex CNLDO were treated with pushed stent intubation. Outcome measures included clinical signs plus a parental history of residual symptoms at 6 months after surgery. Relative risk with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for outcomes was reported.

Results

The mean follow-up after surgery was 9.0 months (range 6.5-13 months). Complete resolution was achieved in 26 of 44 eyes (59.1%; 95% CI 43.3%-73.3%) after pushed stent. Sex (odds ratio [OR] 2.9; 95% CI 0.4-18.9), age (OR 0.9; 95% CI 0.5-1.5), previous history of probing (OR 1.1; 95% CI 0.1-8.1), and presence of mucopurulent discharge (OR 1.1; 95% CI 0.1-7.8) did not have significant impact on the failure rate in all subjects.

Conclusions

In patients with complex CNLDO, treatment with a pushed stent intubation alleviated the clinical signs and symptoms of CNLDO. Pushed stent has the advantage of reduced operating time and easy placement.