title: Balloon dacryocystoplasty as the primary treatment in older children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the outcomes of balloon dacryocystoplasty of the lacrimal duct with inferior turbinate infracture as a primary treatment of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children 18 months of age or older.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a 3-year, prospective, interventional case series, consisting of 83 consecutive patients with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction who underwent balloon dacryocystoplasty as their primary treatment modality. Outcome evaluations included an ophthalmologic examination and a dye disappearance test at 3 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. We analyzed the different age groups and the types of obstruction noted at surgery to determine their respective influences on patient outcomes. We used the chi-square test for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-two patients aged 18 to 112 months (mean 30 months) were included. Overall, 57 patients (79%) had good outcomes from balloon dacryocystoplasty. When analyzed by type of obstruction, 34/42 patients (81%) with simple membranous obstruction at the valve of Hasner had good outcomes and 23/30 patients (77%) with stenosis that extended along the length of the distal NLD had good outcomes (P = 0.60, power 0.62). Age did not significantly affect outcomes (P = 0.66, power 0.72).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Balloon dacryocystoplasty is probably more effective than simple probing in older children with stenosis extending along the distal nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. ddff36@yahoo.com.tw
authors.forename: Po-Liang
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chih-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsiao
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000151:congenital* / Q000628:therapy*; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome