Endonasal Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy (EESC-DCR) for Treatment of Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction, Modified Wormald’s Technique

Abstract

        The objective of this prospective descriptive study of 30 patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction in Samut Sakhon hospital was to study surgical results of endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EESC-DCR) with Modified Wormald’s Technique. Thirty patients (34 eyes), aged 64 years on average, were treated by EESC-DCR during January 2002 - August 2007. The mean duration of symptoms before treatment was 8 years, duration of silicone stent insertion 90 days and, follow up time of 6 months. The surgical functional success rates evaluated by patient saccal irrigations were 100 percent in this short term follow up period. Anatomic success with a patent nasolacrimal system was achieved in 32 of 34 operations (94%) by nasal endoscopic evidence. Overall symptomatic and anatomic success was seen in 28 of 34 operations (82%). The surgical success rates of EESC-DCR were high (82%) and comparable to external DCR and EESC-DCR outcomes in other reports. EESC-DCR may be an alternative treatment for patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction with advantages of preventing a scar on the skin and preserving the pump function of the naslacrimal sac with equally surgical result as external approach.
Key words: nasolacrimal duct obstruction, dacryocystorhinostomy, endoscopic