Back to Journals » Clinical Ophthalmology » Volume 6

Results of nonendoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy

Authors Preechawai P

Received 16 April 2012

Accepted for publication 19 May 2012

Published 13 August 2012 Volume 2012:6 Pages 1297—1301

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S33030

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 4



Passorn Preechawai

Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand

Background: Surgical scarring on the face and disrupted anatomy in the medial canthal area following external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) can be avoided by an endonasal approach. This study examined the outcome of direct visualization endonasal DCR, performed by young surgeons and residents.
Methods: A retrospective case series of 75 consecutive endonasal DCRs performed under direct visualization from July 2002 to July 2004 were reviewed. Surgery was performed by surgeons and residents who had received no special training in the procedure. Full success was defined as no symptoms of tearing after surgery and anatomical patency with fluorescein flow on nasal endoscopy or patency to lacrimal syringing. Partial success was defined as a tearing decrease compared with prior to surgery and with anatomical patency, and failure was defined as no significant improvement in persistent tearing. The average follow-up duration was 26.83 ± 16.26 (range 6–55) months.
Results: Seventy-five DCRs were performed on 63 patients (four male, 59 female) of mean age 49.44 ± 16.63 (range 21–85) years. The surgery was successful in 54/75 eyes (72%), 37/54 eyes (68.5%), and 30/42 eyes (71.4%) at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Partial success was achieved in 13/75 (17.3%), 9/54 (16.7%), and 9/42 (21.4%), and the failure rates were 10.7%, 14.8%, and 7.1% at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. The overall functional success with this technique was 74.7% and the overall anatomical patency was 92.0%. There were no serious complications arising from the surgery; three minor complications were documented, ie, an incorrectly placed silicone tube in the lower canaliculus, tube prolapse, and postoperative bleeding which needed nasal packing and eventually a developed retention cyst in the nasal cavity.
Conclusion: Endonasal DCR under direct visualization is a simple technique with minimal complications and a low learning curve, without the necessity for expensive instruments.

Keywords: endonasal DCR, dacryocystorhinostomy, lacrimal surgery, nasolacrimal duct obstruction

Creative Commons License © 2012 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.