Clinical Evaluation of Endoscopic Transnasal Dacryocyocystorhinostomy

ABSTRACT

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopic transnasal dacryocystorhinostomy(DCR) in patients who had lacrimal obstruction. Between June 1995 and December 1996, 19 patients(20 eyes) who had undergone endoscopic transnasal DCR were evaluated for follow up of at least 3 months. All patients were preoperatively examined by an otolaryngologist. Eleven cases were operated on intranasal diseases(sinusitis, septal deviation, enlarged middle turbinate) at the same time. Lacrimal obstruction was completely relieved in 16 patients (80%) for a follow-up of 3 months. Granulation was formed in 4 patients after 3months. There were two postoperative complications including bleeding and periorbital swelling on the first day after operation. In conclusion, endoscopic tansnasal DCR appears to be a safe, effective procedure which should be considered as an alternative to conventional external DCR for the surgical treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction.