Abstract
Purpose. This study aimed to evaluate long-term results of external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) at a tertiary eye care center specializing in lacrimal duct surgery in Germany. Methods. The medical records of 1010 patients with acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO), who had undergone lacrimal duct surgery at a tertiary eye care center, were reviewed. Only adult patients who had undergone external DCR were included. The evaluation included the following parameters: age, gender, duration of symptoms, patient satisfaction, previous dacryocystitis, complication rates, and surgical outcome. Results. 154 eyes of 146 patients (14.5%) could be included in the study. The average age was 64.1 ± 29.7 years. 66.4% of patients were females and 33.6% were males. Acute or chronic dacryocystitis was found in 81 patients (55.5%). Overall, 82.8% of patients had full resolution of symptoms. The success rate of external DCR for patients with previous episodes of dacryocystitis was 82.7% compared to 83.4% for patients without dacryocystitis in their medical history. Conclusion. In cases in which transcanalicular microendoscopic techniques are contraindicated (e.g., after dacryocystitis) or in complex cases where microendoscopic procedures have failed (revision surgery), external DCR is still the surgical treatment of choice with very good postoperative success.
Highlights
Acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) is a common disorder that occurs more frequently in females [1, 2]
The majority of the patients showed a duration of symptoms prior to first presentation at our department of more than one year (Figure 2). 78.8% (n = 115) patients complained of epiphora, and 55.5% (n = 81) of patients had previously had acute or chronic dacryocystitis
The relative number of external DCR procedures in relation to the total number of all forms of lacrimal duct surgery performed at our department (14.5%) agrees with results from other centers specializing in lacrimal duct surgery [5, 7]
Summary
Acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) is a common disorder that occurs more frequently in females [1, 2]. Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is the standard treatment for nasolacrimal duct obstruction. There are two main types of DCR: external and endonasal. External DCR was first described by Toti in 1904 [3], and the procedure has been modified many times by different surgeons over the years [1]. The endonasal technique was first described by West in 1910 [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
