An unusual complication of nasolacrimal duct probing.
A 4-mm segment of the tip of a 0000 probe broke off inside the nasolacrimal duct of an 11-month-old girl during probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Despite numerous attempts, the tip could not be extracted. Examination of the 000 end of the double-ended probe showed a narrow neck approximately 4 mm from the bulbous tip. Choosing an appropriate probe design, inspecting the probe before use, and selecting the appropriate probe size will help prevent this unusual complication.
Department of Ophthalmology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC.
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Yeatts
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Crum
D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000151:congenital*; D011859:Radiography; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes