[Indications and prognosis of dacryocystorhinostomy in childhood. A clinical study 1970-2000].

BACKGROUND: Dacryocystitis in infants is a serious complication of congenital, but seldom of acquired nasolacrimal duct obstructions. If conservative treatment fails, dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) appears to be effective. The indications, special clinical history and results will be reviewed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1/1970 to 2/2000, a total of 72 children (56 male, 16 female) with persistent dacryocystitis (18 bilateral) were treated surgically by DCR and were continuously documented. The patients ranged in age from 10 months to 14 years old (mean age 4.9 years). Included in our study were 66 children (52 male, 14 female) with 84 surgically treated lacrimal ducts (46 right eyes, 38 left eyes) who underwent control examinations.
RESULTS: The cause of dacryocystitis was congenital obstruction in 63 children and trauma (maxillary fracture) in 3 children, respectively. Of these, 20 children (30.3%) had additional anomalies of the lacrimal system, 21 (31.8%) systemic malformations and 8 out of the 66 children (12.1%) had a family history of nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Since 1985 the surgical procedures have been performed under microsurgery conditions and since 1998 sometimes with a transcanalicular laser-assisted technique. We found a functional success rate (with complete resolution of symptoms) of 90.4% (76 out of 84 lacrimal ducts) over follow-up periods ranging from 1 month to 12 years (average 1.6 years).
CONCLUSION: Patients with persistent dacryocystitis due to congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction have a prevalence of further nasolacrimal abnormalities and a family history. The dacryocystorhinostomy of infants requires minimal invasive (sometimes laser-assisted) techniques. In the case of persistent dacryocystitis, DCR is indicated after the age of 1 year and has the same success rate in infants as in adults (90-95%).