INTRANASAL ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY WITH SILICONE INTUBATION FOR LACRIMAL OBSTRUCTION

Endoscopic intranasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) with silicone intuba tion has been evaluated as a primary treatment of lacrimal obstruction in 30 patients and for revision of conventional DCRs in 4 patients. L acrimal obstruction was completely relieved in 28 (93.3%) of 30 primar y procedure patients, and in three of four previously operated patient s after a mean follow-up of 18 months. No intraoperative complications were observed. The average period of time of silicone tube intubation was 2 months. Intranasal endoscopic DCR with silicone intubation is a n effective method in treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstructions and should also be considered in patients with recurrent epiphora after ex ternal DCR.