title: Intraoperative prognostic factors for probing outcome in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the intraoperative prognostic factors for probing outcome in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective interventional study, 69 eyes of 60 children aged 12 to 24 months with CNLDO underwent probing and irrigation. All procedures were performed by a single oculoplastic surgeon. The nature of the obstruction was classified by the surgeon as simple or complex. The fluency of irrigation after probing was defined as easy or difficult. Treatment success was defined as no epiphora or mucus discharge at 3 months after probing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age at the time of probing was 15.3±3.1 months (range, 12-23 months). Treatment success was achieved in 56 of 69 eyes (81.2%). There was a significant difference in success rate of probing in eyes with simple obstruction (87.8%) compared with complex obstruction (65%) (p=0.02). Also, there was a significant difference in success rate of probing in eyes with easy irrigation (100%) compared with difficult irrigation (53.6%) (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Probing was more successful in eyes with simple obstruction or easy irrigation in children aged 12 to 24 months. The fluency of irrigation as an objective finding was a reliable intraoperative prognostic factor for probing success.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oculoplasty and Strabismus, Nikookari Eye Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Abbasi St., Tabriz, Iran. dima1366@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Dima
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Andalib
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nabei
mesh_terms: D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009339:Needles; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011677:Punctures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation