Success Rate of Probing and Syringing at Different Age Groups at Nishtar Hospital Multan

Abstract

Objective: To determine the efficacy of Probing and Syringing in Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct
Obstruction (CNLDO) patients of various age groups.
Methods: In this study, two hundred and forty six patients of either gender and ≥ one year of age
with Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction were included in this study. Demographic details
from all the patients in terms of age and gender were recorded. The probing was done under
general anesthesia, in stepwise manner using Bowman's probe size 00, followed by probes size
0, then 1, 2, 3.The patients were visited at 2 weeks, and 3 and 6 months postoperatively.
Successful probing was documented as complete remission of watering and discharge together
with no reflux from with lacrimal sac pressure two weeks after the procedure
Results:Age range in this study was ≥ one year with mean age of 6.804 ± 5.56 years. Majority of
patients according to age groups were belongs to 1-5 years125(50.8%).Frequency and
percentage of patients according to gender was 102(41.46%) males and 144(58.54%) females.
The overall success rate of probing was seen in 173(70.3%) patients. Success rate was
significantly better in 1-5 years age group which gradually decline as age increased (p=0.000),
Conclusions: Probing and Syringing has remained the best and time-tested procedure for the
treatment of congenital NLD obstruction under General Anaesthesia. The best time is between 1
to5 year of age