ENDOSCOPIC TRANSNASAL DACRYOCYSTORHINOSTOMY - LONG-TERM RESULTS

Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) was successfully performed in 4 0 patients, with four patients having bilateral surgery. Follow-up dat a were obtained on 43/44 eyes using clinical notes and a patient quest ionnaire. Range of follow up was 1-46 months, with an average of 18 mo nths (in nine patients follow up was at least 3 years). Epiphora was s uccessfully relieved in 86% of patients and there was no evidence of a recurrence of nasolacrimal obstruction in the long term. Endoscopic D CR is a relatively quick and simple procedure with low morbidity, and as such is suitable for day case surgery. Satisfactory long-term resul ts make endoscopic DCR an alternative to external DCR as primary surgi cal treatment for nasolacrimal duct obstruction. In cases of failed ex ternal DCR, or when epiphora is iatrogenic following surgery to the la teral nasal wall, a transnasal endoscopic approach is probably the tre atment of choice.