Comparación de la eficacia entre la intubación monocanalicular con Masterka y bicanalicular con sonda de Crawford, en pacientes adultos

This study compares the number of adult patients with low nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) who improved the epiphora after treatment using monocanalicular intubation (MCI) with Masterka versus patients who underwent bicanalicular intubation (BCI) with Crawford’s probe. In a retrospective cohort study, 172 eyes with partial and acquired NLDO underwent either Masterka (74 eyes) or Crawford´s probe (98 eyes). In the MCI group, 16 men (35%) and 29 women (65%) were included, with a mean age of 66 (SD 14.9), 95% CI (62-71). The number of days with a probe was 102 (SD 55.05), 95% CI (83-121). The initial improvement was 91% (n = 41). The improvement at the time of extraction of the probe was 80% (n = 32). There was a partial improvement at 6 months in 53% of patients (n = 24), a total improvement at 6 months in 15% (n = 11) and no improvement in 31% (n = 14). In the BCI group, 26 men (42%) and 35 women (58%) were included, with a mean age of 72 (SD 12.2), 95% CI (69-75). The number of days with a probe was 116 (SD 54.8), 95% CI (101-131). The initial improvement was 91% (n = 56). The improvement at the time of extraction of the probe was 79% (n = 43). There was a partial improvement at 6 months in 54% of patients (n = 33), a total improvement at 6 months in 14% (n = 13) and no improvement in 31% (n = 19). The probes are used to partially improve the epiphora in the long term. We found no difference between Masterka and Crawford. The main advantages of the first technique were the simpler insertion and the easy removal of the tube.