Success Rate of Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy Based on the Location of the Lacrimal Sac

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We studied whether the illumination had an influence on the identification of the location of the lacrimal sac and the success rate of endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). METHODS: Endoscopic endonasal DCR was performed on 85 eyes of 80 patients who had obstruction of nasolacrimal system without illumination. RESULTS: In all patients, identification of the location of the lacrimal sac by detecting the probe tip or the lacrimo-maxillary suture line was accomplished, without illumination. Final success rate was 87.1% in illuminator non-using group. CONCLUSIONS: We considered that endoscopic endonasal DCR without illumination, in the knowledge of lacrimal sac, ethmoid anatomy, and anatomical variations, was a non-invasive, efficient, and satisfactory method.