[Management of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction].

PURPOSE To present the success rate in treating congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction with hydrostatic pressure (Crigler method). METHODS Clinical data from 186 children aged up to 32 months treated from 1990 until 2005 were reviewed retrospectively. The procedure was repeated up to 3 times at a one week interval. Using EPI INFO version 6.04 software for analysis, data were tabulated and statistical significance was evaluated by applying chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS Leading age group was 1 to 5 months old (56.4%) for males and females. Affection was bilateral in 36.3%, 34.1% on right side and 29.6% on the left side. All cases had epiphora and 56.5% presented mucopurulent discharge. Cure was achieved with one massage for 43.6%, 23.3% with two, 17.4% with three and, with 4 and 5+ sessions in respectively 5.8% and 9.0%. Those 14 cases who did not respond to massage were treated with probing. CONCLUSION The Crigler method was effective in managing congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction cases.