The Surgical Results of Endonasal DCR with Two Silicone Tubes in Common Canalicular Obstruction

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the surgical results of endonasal dacrocystorhinostomy with two silicone intubation in common canalicular obstruction. METHODS: Forty patients (57 eyes) who complained of tearing due to common canalicular obstruction underwent endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy. In this study, We randomly divided patients into two groups. One group underwent one-silicone tube intubation (29 eyes, group A) and the other group underwent two-silicone tube intubation (28 eyes, group B). After surgery, we compared the success rates and the causes of surgical failure between the two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to age, sex, duration of silicone intubation, or follow-up time. The primary success rates of the group A and the group B were 65.5% (19/29) and 85.7% (24/28) [(P=0.078)], respectively. the final success rates after the revisional surgery were 76.4% (21/29) and 92.8% (26/28) [(P=0.043)] respectively. Primary causes of surgical failure in the group A were membranous obstruction of the internal ostium (6), common canalicular re-obstruction (2), sump syndrome (1), and functional obstruction (1). The main causes of surgical failure in the group B were membranous obstruction of the internal ostium (2), and granuloma formation (2). CONCLUSIONS: We believe that endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy with two-silicone tube intubation might be an excellent alternative treatment modality in order to improve success rates in common canalicular obstruction.