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Groups report success rates of intubation, balloon catheter dilation in children
J AAPOS. 2008;12:445-450.
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Nasolacrimal duct obstruction was successfully treated in 91% of cases when intubation was used and in 82% of cases when balloon catheter dilation was used, researchers found in two separate, noncomparative studies.
In one prospective, nonrandomized, observational multicenter study, 150 eyes in children aged 6 months to 44 months who had at least one clinical sign of nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) underwent intubation as primary treatment. At least one punctum was dilated, and either a monocanalicular or bicanalicular tube was placed.
In the second prospective, nonrandomized, observational multicenter study, 151 eyes in children aged 12 months to 47 months with NLDO underwent balloon catheter dilation as primary treatment, in which the nasolacrimal duct was probed with a semiflexible wire with an inflatable balloon tip.
The requirement for no additional surgery and the absence of epiphora, mucous discharge and increased tear lake were measures of success in both studies.
The investigators reported that the results of the studies cannot be compared because there was no randomization with a comparison group.