PURPOSE: In @entity1 older than 18 months, primary probing procedures for @entity1448 ( @entity1448 ) are thought to have lower rates of success. This study compares the results of primary probing to balloon dacryocystoplasty ( @entity1298 ) in @entity1 stratified by age category. METHODS: In a retrospective chart review, 29 eyes with @entity1448 that underwent balloon @entity1298 in @entity1 older than 18 months were identified and age-matched to 29 eyes that underwent probing. The eyes were divided into 3 age categories: category 1 (18-24 months), category 2 (24-36 months), and category 3 (>36 months). RESULTS: Of the 29 eyes treated with balloon @entity1298 (mean age, 37.1 months), 26 were successfully treated. Twenty-five of the 29 matched probed eyes (mean age, 31.1 months) were successfully treated, resulting in an overall success rate of 90% for balloon @entity1298 and 86% for primary probing. Within each age category, the success rate varied but did not show an advantage to balloon @entity1298 . The presence of crusting and expressible discharge from the puncta during preoperative evaluation predicted a successful probing (OR, 16; 95% CI, 1.3-192). CONCLUSION: Overall, balloon @entity1298 did not appear to present an advantage as compared with primary probing as the initial treatment in these @entity1 . Primary probing has an impressive overall success rate that did not diminish in the @entity1 older than 36 months.

Comparison of balloon dacryocystoplasty to probing as the primary treatment of XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children'] @entity1448 :: ('MESH:D002779', 'Disease') :: ['congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction', 'CNLDO'] @entity1298 :: ('CHEBI:60424', 'Chemical') :: ['DCP']
@entity1448 :: (MESH:D002779,Disease) :: ['congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction']
