title: Use of endocanalicular dacryocystorhinostomy with multidiode laser in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical outcome and efficacy of endocanalicular laser dacryocystorhinostomy using a multidiode laser in cases unresponsive to medical therapy, probing or intubation of pediatric nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight children with nasolacrimal duct obstruction were treated with a multidiode laser. The study was prospective, non-randomized, and noncomparative. The patients, 2 (25%) males and 6 (75%) females, ranged in age from 8 to 13 years (mean 11.25±2.43). Surgery was performed under general anesthesia. All procedures were performed using a multidiode laser. The nasal passage was visualized with a 30° nasal video endoscope. In all cases, silicone stents were inserted. The main outcome measure was resolution or improvement of the epiphora and no major laser damage intranasally. Patients were followed for at least 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The endocanalicular laser dacryocystorhinostomy failed in one of the 8 (12.5%) cases, which had been secondary to trauma. The others were due to primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction. External dacryocystorhinostomy was performed on the failed case. None of the cases with primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction had obstruction after the endocanalicular laser dacryocystorhinostomy operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endocanalicular laser dacryocystorhinostomy using a multidiode laser appears to be an effective technique in cases unresponsive to medical therapy, probing or intubation of primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, TR-21280 Diyarbakır, Turkey. sevincakmak@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sevin Soker
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cakmak
authors.forename: Muzeyyen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yildirim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000151:congenital; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery