[Congenital obstruction of lacrimal ducts in 578 children].

BACKGROUND

Congenital obstruction of the nasa lacrimal ducts is a frequent problem in infancy. Its management is still controversial.

REPORT

578 children aged 6 weeks to 3 years were treated in our department between 1980 and 1987. Congenital obstruction of the nasa lacrimal ducts was bilateral in 172 of them, so that a total of 750 ducts were obstructed. All the infants were treated with antibiotics until they are 2 months old. Permeability was obtained in 97% of the 750 obstructed ducts: this was spontaneous in 38.7%, after a single wash in 3%, and by probing under general anesthesia in 55.3%. The percentage of cases requiring surgery increased with age at time of diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The best results are obtained in infants 2 to 4 months old.