DIAPHANOSCOPIC LOCALIZATION OF THE LACRIM AL SYSTEM DURING ENDONASAL DACRYOCYSTORHINOSTOMY

Background: Endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy is a well established tech nique in the surgical treatment of stenosis of the lacrimal system. Du e to individual anatomic variations it can be difficult and time consu ming to localize the stenosis of the lacrimal system intraoperatively. Methods and patients: To simplify the localization of the lacrimal sy stem, a diaphanoscopic technique that has been used in oral surgery wa s modified for endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy. A sterile optical fibe r is passed through the lacrimal canal from the eye into the lacrimal sac or down to the stenosis. Its light can be detected in the nose and marks the sac or the stenosis. To date we have performed twelve opera tions with this technique. Results: In our experience, endonasal dacry ocystorhinostomy is simplified and accelerated by localizing the lacri mal system with diaphanoscopy. Conclusions: The diaphanoscopic localiz ation of the lacrimal system during endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy is a slight technical modification that is simple and helpful and could therefore be incorporated into the surgical routine.