Surgical Outcome of External Dacryocystorhinostomy With Silicone Intubation for Recurrent Lacrimal Abscess in Children Younger Than 6 Years

Purpose: To assess the success rate of external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) with silicone intubation for recurrent lacrimal abscess in children younger than 6 years. Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis of 46 eyes of 40 children who underwent DCR with silicone tube intubation for recurrent lacrimal abscess was done. Probing done previously in these cases was unsuccessful. Only those children who underwent incision and drainage of the abscess at least once with antibiotic treatment were included in the study. In all cases, silicone tube removal was done after 3 months. A successful outcome was defined as the absence of subjective complaints of pain and swelling over the medial canthal area and watering and discharge at 6 months postoperatively. Objective assessment of patency of the lacrimal apparatus was done by sac syringing at 6 months postoperatively. Results: The mean age at surgery was 4.93 ± 0.93 years (range: 3 to 6 years) and the mean follow-up duration was 11.80 ± 11.87 months (range: 6 to 84 months). Intra-operative difficulties encountered were excessive perisac adhesion (n = 28) and severe bleeding/hemorrhage (n = 24). A total of 82.61% cases had a successful outcome after DCR with silicon tube intubation. One child had granuloma formation at the wound. Spontaneous tube extrusion occurred in three children. Conclusions: DCR with silicone tube intubation is a safe and effective surgical approach with satisfactory outcomes for treating recurrent lacrimal abscess with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children younger than 6 years. [ J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus . 2019;56(3):188–193.]