First results of endonasal balloon dacryoplasty use in recurrence after dacryocystorhinostomy

Abstract

Background. In recurrent dacryocystitis after dacryocystorhinostomy, a re-operation is indicated. In recent years, some publications appeared concerning endonasal dacryoplasty using 9 mm-balloon in treatment of patients with recurrent dacryocystitis.
 Purpose to evaluate the possibility of using endonasal balloon dacryoplasty in recurrence after dacryocystorhinostomy.
 Materials and methods. Into the study, 6 patients (6 cases) were included who underwent endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy for dacryocystitis 1-3 years before. In all patients, evaluation of Munks scores for epiphora, optical coherence tomography (OCT) based lacrimal meniscometry, dye disappearance test, lacrimal drainage system syringing and probing of its horizontal part, nasal endoscopy, multispiral computed tomography of lacrimal drainage system with contrast enhancement. In all patients, endonasal dacryoplasty using a balloon with 6 mm diameter was carried out. The follow-up period after surgery was 6 months.
 Results. In 4 patients, recovery was achieved, in 1 patient improvement was obtained, in 1 patient there was dacryostoma cicatrization.
 Conclusion. Preliminary results received in this study of the balloon dacryoplasty performed in 6 patients afford ground to consider it possible to use this method in patients with dacryocystitis recurrence after dacryocystorhinostomy. The matter of the prospects when using this method may be solved after further research aimed to increase the number of clinical observations to enhance the possibility of adequate statistical processing of obtained results, to extend the postoperative follow-up period, to develop the indications for this procedure, and to investigate the necessity in additional manipulations improving the effectiveness of endonasal balloon dacryoplasty.