English

Abstract

BACKGROUND Epiphora is a common annoying symptom, embarrassing the patient both socially and functionally and may even endanger the eye. Chronic Dacryocystitis is the most common cause of epiphora which arises from nasolacrimal duct occlusion. Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is the procedure of choice in the management of Dacryocystitis. We wanted to study the final outcome following endonasal DCR for chronic dacryocystitis with or without using silicon stent, evaluate the causes of persistence of epiphora in patients with or without the use of lacrimal stents and identify the methods of overcoming them postoperatively. METHODS A case control study to compare the results of Endonasal DCR with and without stent was conducted among 96 patients of both genders aged above 20 years with symptoms and signs suggestive of nasolacrimal duct blockage. All the cases and controls were randomly selected and included as group A and group B. RESULTS 96 patients were included in this study and they were divided into two groups (Group A and Group B) with 48 patients in each group. More than 75 % of the patients were between 31 and 60 years of age with a mean age of 44.36 ± 3.15 years. In Group B, 72.91 % of the cases were between 31 and 60 years of age with a mean age of 45.50 ± 4.10 years. There was no statistically significant difference in both groups. In group A (DCR with stent) success rate or relief of symptoms was 96 % whereas in group B (DCR without stent) success rate or symptomatic relief was 80 %. CONCLUSIONS Endoscopic endonasal DCR with stent is a safe and minimally invasive procedure and is an effective treatment for patients who have failed primary endoscopic DCR without stent and also in cases of mucocele and pyocele of the sac. KEYWORDS Chronic Dacryocystitis, Dacryocysto-Rhinostomy, Nasolacrimal Duct and Endoscopic Dacryocysto-Rhinostomy