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Abstract ID: 24-164
Efficacy of probing associated with syringing to treat functional epiphora in the elderly.
Silvana Artioli Schellini
Purpose
Functional epiphora is a watering eye with a patent syringing but dysfunctional lacrimal system. The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of probing associated with syringing to treat the elderly with functional epiphora.
Methods
A comparative, prospective, and interventional study was carried out at the Clinic Hospital of Botucatu Medical School between 2021 and 2023 to evaluate the efficacy of probing and syringing to treat watering eyes with functional nasolacrimal duct obstruction in adults over 50 years old. The Research Ethics Committee approved the study protocol. Sixty patients with uni or bilateral watering eyes were included. The functional obstruction was confirmed by hard stop, fluorescein dye disappearance test (FDDT) retention and lacrimal system patency detected on syringing with saline and scintigraphy (Sci). The lacrimal systems diagnosed with functional obstruction were probed using a 0-00 Bowman probe and syringing with saline was performed. Six months after that, the lacrimal vies were re-assessed, looking for symptoms, FDDT, syringing, and Sci. Descriptive statistical analysis and correlation tests were applied (p≤0.5).
Results
Of the 60 included patients, functional obstruction was confirmed in 69 (57.5%) lacrimal systems, 42.5% in patients 60 to 69 years old, 60.8% women, all with FDDT retention, 53.6% patent in the syringing test, and 49.3% had 99-Tc blocked in the Sc. Six months after treatment, 47.8% of the functional obstruction had no more epiphora and were considered as successful treatment, 18.8% had partial improvement, but failure was observed in 31.9% of patients.
Conclusion
Treatment of functional lacrimal vies obstruction is still a challenge. Probing and syringing can provide symptomatic improvement and be considered as a possible treatment. However, failure is still high, and other interventions are needed.
Additional Authors
Igor Carmona Chaves – Clinic Hospital Botucatu Medical School – UNESP, SP, Brazil
Carlos Roberto Padovani – Biostatistics Department – UNESP, SP, Brazil
– Clinic Hospital Botucatu Medical School – UNESP, SP, Brazil