J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2011 Mar;52(3):266-271. 10.3341/jkos.2011.52.3.266.

Factors Affecting the Outcome of Silicone Intubation for Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction

• Park J
• Lee YJ
• Kim SJ
• Jang JW

• KMID: 2214289
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2011.52.3.266

Abstract

PURPOSE
To determine the factors affecting the outcome of silicone intubation for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
METHODS
A total of 233 eyes of 200 children that received silicone intubation were enrolled in a retrospective study.
RESULTS
The overall success of silicone intubation was 193 of 233 eyes (82.8%). There was no significant difference in success rate between age groups. Tube retention time did not affect the success rates. Immediate tube dislocation as early as within 2 weeks did not lower the success rates (81.5%). Success rates were significantly lowered by persistent epiphora at the point of tube removal (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
The outcome of silicone intubation is determined by symptomatic improvement, which is not affected by tube retention time. Unplanned early tube dislocation may not affect the outcome of silicone intubation unless symptoms are persistent, and sufficient tube retention time does not ensure the success if symptoms are persistent.

Keyword

Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction; Success rate; Tube retention time

MeSH Terms

Child
Dietary Sucrose
Dislocations
Eye
Humans
Intubation
Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases
Nasolacrimal Duct
Retention (Psychology)
Retrospective Studies
Silicones
Dietary Sucrose
Silicones

Figure

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  Figure 1. The success rate for patients of different age groups. There is no significant difference in the success rate for patients of different age groups (p = 0.138; ANOVA with Tukey multiple comparisons).

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  Figure 2. The distribution of tube retention time and the proportion of unexpectedly dislocated tubes. The tube retention time of 103 of 233 eyes (44.2%) was between 3 to 6 months, and was between 1 to 3 months for 53 of 233 eyes (22.7%). The proportion of unexpectedly removed tubes is marked off with dark gray boxes.

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  Figure 3. The success rate according to the tube retention time. Each group, even the group in which tube retention time was less than 2 weeks, shows no significant difference in success rate (p = 0.066; ANOVA with Tukey multiple comparisons).

Reference

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