Results of Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy in Patients with Nasolacrimal Obstruction

Abstract

Introduction: Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy is the treatment of nasolacrimal obstruction. Since the development of the endonasal approach, it has been considered an effective therapeutic alternative, with notable advantages over the open technique; Furthermore, it offers the possibility of correcting other alterations of the nose and paranasal cavities in the same surgical time.

Objective: To demonstrate the results of nasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy in patients with endonasal alterations.

Methods: A prospective, longitudinal study was carried out in 36 patients with obstructive alterations of the tear duct in the period from September 2021 to January 2024, in the otorhinolaryngology service of the “General Calixto García” University Hospital.

Results: Dacryocystitis was more frequent in females (52.8%), mostly after the fourth decade of life; endonasal alteration was more frequent, septal deviation and epiphora were the clinical form for 69.4% and 70%, respectively. Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy presented a reduced frequency of postoperative complications, for both groups; However, the clinical improvement of patients with endonasal alterations was slower. A good improvement was confirmed after the surgical treatment, a decrease in the persistence of symptoms and a high frequency of patients with positive fluorescence tests was achieved.

Conclusions: Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy turns out to be an excellent surgical tool for the management of patients with a diagnosis of nasolacrimal obstruction. It is a successful, safe procedure, with a low rate of complications and a very good postoperative evolution, recommended for all those cases with poor response to traditional medical therapies.