Clinical outcomes of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy without preserving mucosal flaps in combination with silicone stent and steroid-soaked gelfoam.

[PURPOSE] To report clinical outcomes of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (En-DCR) combined with stenting and without preserving the nasal and lacrimal mucosal flaps.

[METHODS] In this prospective interventional case series, patients with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction who were candidates for En-DCR were enrolled. Patients with a known history of previous DCR, sinus surgery, rhinoplasty, nasal trauma, nasal anomaly, canalicular or punctal occlusion, or less than one year of follow-up were excluded. All patients underwent En-DCR and stenting followed by ostial packing using Gelfoam soaked with dexamethasone. The patients were assessed preoperatively, on the first postoperative day, after 2 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year. Postoperative outcomes were anatomical and functional success, defined as patent irrigation test and resolution of epiphora, respectively. The nasolacrimal drainage system was evaluated anatomically and functionally during the follow-up period.

[RESULTS] Eighty-three patients with a mean age of 54.36±15.27 years were enrolled. Of these, 61 patients (73.5%) were women. The mean duration of follow-up was 20.7±6.9 months. Anatomical success was achieved in all patients and remained stable during the study duration and at 1 year. Functional failure leading to epiphora was observed in 1 patient 3 months after surgery and resolved after re-DCR at year 1. Preoperative tenderness and purulent reflux were observed in 12%, 33.7% of which completely resolved postoperatively. Moderate and severe hemorrhage was observed in 12 (14.5%) and 2 (2.4%) patients, respectively.

[CONCLUSION] En-DCR without mucosal flap preservation in combination with silicone stent and steroid-soaked Gelfoam is a safe and highly successful procedure in patients with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction.