ENDOSCOPIC LASER-ASSISTED DACRYOCYSTORHINOSTOMY

Purpose: This study evaluates the efficacy of endoscopic laser-assiste d dacryocystorhinostomy (LADCR) in the treatment of epiphora and chron ic dacryocystitis. Patients and Methods: Treatment results were prospe ctively reviewed for 17 patients undergoing 19 LADCR procedures of whi ch 12 were primary and 7 were revision cases. Silastic intubation tubi ng was removed after surgery at a mean of 76.5 days in the primary cas es and 184 days in the revision cases. Patients were followed-up for a mean of 15.6 months (range, 5 to 25 months). Results: LADCR was succe ssful in 100% of primary cases and 60% of revision procedures. The onl y complications were 2 conjunctival fistula, which closed without sequ ela. Conclusion: The efficacy of primary LADCR is comparable to report ed external approaches. The success of revision LADCR is less favorabl e, yet the number of cases reported here is too small to reach a concl usion. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.