Results of endoscopic mechanical dacryocystorhinostomy in primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction

Background: Epiphora and dacryocystitis following nasolacrimal duct obstruction are considered as two widely common complaints among the patients and dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is the treatment choice for such conditions. Objective: To determine success rate of DCR with endoscopic and mechanical techniques. Methods: In this prospective analytic study 67 patients were operated during 2000-2003. Based on clinical history, results of regurgitation and irrigation tests and also dacryoscintigraphy, the patients with primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction, were operated using nasal endoscopes and mechanical instruments. Intraoperative bleeding, postoperative pain and bleeding, and periobital ecchimosis were recorded and success rate after a follow up of 6 and 12 months was determined. Findings: After a follow up of 6 and 12 months duration, success rates were 91.4% and 88.5%, respectively. Severe intraoperative bleeding was observed in 11.4% of patients and periorbital ecchimosis found in 7.1% of cases. Three days following the surgery, mild and moderate pain was seen in 32 patients whereas moderate nose bleeding observed in only 2 cases. Conclusion: Endoscopic mechanical DCR without expensive equipments and with high success rate could be substituted for external DCR.