title: Office probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction: a study of parental satisfaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine parental satisfaction with nasolacrimal probings performed in the office without sedation for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the charts of 81 consecutive children under 4 years of age who underwent nasolacrimal probings in our office. Sixty-seven caretakers of these children were contacted by telephone to determine parental satisfaction, probing effectiveness, procedural complications, and future recommendations. A comparison between parental satisfaction and patient age, probing effectiveness, and unilateral versus bilateral probings was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most caretakers (86%) were satisfied with the procedure and most (81%) would prefer the probing to be performed in the office rather than under general anesthesia (6% were unsure). Satisfaction rates were similar between the different age groups (P > .5 by Chi-square analysis), but were slightly lower in the unsuccessful probing and bilateral probing subgroups. Parents of children who underwent both an office procedure and a subsequent procedure under general anesthesia tended to prefer the office-based technique.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of caretakers of children who underwent unilateral or bilateral nasolacrimal probings in the office without sedation were satisfied with the procedure and, when given a choice, preferred it over probings performed under general anesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Goldblum
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Egbert
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Letson
mesh_terms: D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000151:congenital*; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000601:surgery*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome