Pushed Monocanalicular Intubation Versus Probing for Management of Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction

Aim of Work: Evaluation of pushed monocanalicular intubation using Masterka® tube, regarding efficiency, complications, and advantages versus simple probing in patients with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Methods: Randomized interventional case controlled study included 60 eyes (of 53 patients), 30 eyes underwent probing and 30 eyes intubation using Masterka tube as a primary treatment for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Children were aged 6 to 36 months at the time of surgery, with no prior nasolacrimal surgical procedure, and had at least one of the following clinical signs of NLDO: Epiphora, mucous discharge and/or increased tear lake. Results: Treatment success was defined as absence of epiphora, mucous discharge and increased tear lake at the outcome visit two month after tube removal. The overall success rate in the probing group was 80% while in the intubation group was 83.3%. Conclusion: Pushed monocanalicuar intubation (Masterka) is an effective and simple method for treatment of CNLDO and it requires only mask inhalation anesthesia, however there was no statistical difference between it and primary probing.