Endoscopic Endonasal Dacrycystorhinostomy

Overview

Since 1996 the authors made 21 endoscopic dacrycystorhinostomies in 20 patients. The cause of stenosis of the lacrimal pathways were in six of the operated patients changes in the nasal sinus making drainage of tears difficult. In another two patients iatrogenic stenosis was involved. In two patients the cause was post-traumatic, in one patient a dacryolith was detected. In 10 patients the stenosis was idiopathic. In all patients epiphora was found and on irrigation occluded lacrimal pathways. In 17 patients also mucopurulent secretion from the lacrimal pathways was recorded and in nine there was a phlegmon of the lacrimal sac in the case-history. All were operated under general anaesthesia, using an endoscopic endonasal approach, without permanent or serious complications. After surgery epiphora persists only in one case of 21, in 20 rinsing of ther lacrimal pathways is unobstructed. These results are comparable with data of other authors and endoscopic dacrycystorhinostomy can be considered the method of choice of intra- and postsaccal stenoses of the efferent lacrimal pathways.

Key words:
endoscopic endonasal dacrycystorhinostomy, stenosis of the efferent lacrimal pathways.