ANALYSIS OF THE LARGE COLLARETTE SILICONE MONO-CANALICULAR STENT INTUBATION EFFECTIVENESS IN CONGENITAL NASO-LACRYMAL SYSTEM OBSTRUCTION

Background Bicanaliculo-nasal intubation (BCNI) is considered as the m ethod of choice in the treatment of naso-lacrimal duct obstruction (NL DO) in children. Side effects of BCNI are possible and monocanaliculo- nasal intubation (MCNI) provides the same results with fewer complicat ions. Nevertheless, most of the short duration monocanaliculonasal ste nt complications concern the migration of the silicone stent in the ca naliculus. we thought that this fact may be linked with the shape of t he head of the monocanaliculonasal stent and decided to alter it. Meth ods Monocanaliculo-nasal intubation tvas performed in 52 cases, in 41 children, using a modified silicone mono-canalicular stent (large coll arette stent). Results The results were compared with a reference seri es of 52 cases treated with the classical silicone mono-canalicular st ent intubation. The rate of success was comparable in both series, but fewer complications were observed with this new device. In particular no migration of the silicone in the canaliculus occurred. Conclusion The authors state that this modified mono-canalicular stent decreases the lacrimo-nasal intubation morbidity without altering its effectiven ess.