SILICONE INTUBATION WITH TISSUE GLUE ANASTOMOSIS IN THE TREATMENT OF CONGENITAL NASOLACRIMAL DUCT OBSTRUCTION

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the advantages of tissue glue ap plication for the anastomosis of silicone intubation in congenital nas olacrimal duct obstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with congen ital nasolacrimal duct obstruction were treated with silicone intubati on with the aid of tissue glue for end-to-end anastomosis. The recurre nce rate, complications, and the need for general anesthesia at tube r emoval were recorded. RESULTS: The silicone tubes for all 18 eyes stud ied were removed smoothly on an outpatient basis. Early extrusion was noted in 3 eyes. No recurrence of epiphora was noted in any eye after more than 6 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Tissue glue anastomosis i s a beneficial modification that avoids the need for general anesthesi a during stent removal in children and allows removal to be easily per formed in an outpatient clinic.