"Pushed" stent intubation for treatment of complex congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

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.