Abstract:

Purpose: assessing the results of different surgical methods in the nazolakrimal canal blockage (NLKT) in pediatric patients according to age groups. Materials and Methods: Patients with NLKT diagnosis were included in the study. The records of patients with nasolakrimal canal sonding, silicone tube entubation or endoscopic dakriyosistorinostomy (DSR) between 2015 and 2018 due to nasolakrimal canal blocks (DNLKT) or intravenous NLKT were reviewed backward. The age of the patients during the surgery, the status of postoperative irrigation complaints and the presence of epiphora were analyzed according to age groups. Results: 77/150 of the 150 patients surveyed (51.3%) were women, 73/150 (48.7%) were men. The average age of patients was 22.3 (1 month-8 years) a month. The study included 174 eyes of 150 patients diagnosed with NKLT. Patients were divided into four age groups. 100 percent of the first group (0-12 months) were successfully treated with NLK sonding. However, the success rate with NLK survey in the second group (12-24 months) was 81.8%. In the third group (24-48 months) the success rate of NLK sonding fell to 52.4%, while the success rate of silicone tube entubation was 100% in the same age group. In the fourth group (48 months or greater) the success rate of NLK sonding fell to 20%, while all operations with endoscopic DSR and silicone tube entubation were successful. Result: In pediatric patients with Nazolakrimal canal blockage, the selection and success rate of treatment varies according to age group. The NLK sonding procedure is a safe and effective method of treatment for DNLKT in cases that do not respond to conservative treatment in the first 12 months of life. As the age of patients increases, the success of NLK sonding decreases. However, before an invasive treatment method, the NLK sonding procedure is recommended to be done more than once.