Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate the improvement in epiphora in patients with acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) using lacricath balloon dilation to the middle meatus in endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EndoDCR) vs. traditional middle meatal EndoDCR.
Methods :
This was a retrospective study of 14 eyes in 12 patients who were surgically treated for acquired NLDO using balloon-assisted EndoDCR (group 1) or traditional EndoDCR (group 2). Patients were included in the study if they had at least 3 months of follow-up, no prior DCR, sinus surgery or septoplasty. Their final visit was used to determine success. Patients were classified as follows: full success (complete absence of tearing and normal lacrimal irrigation), partial success (improved tearing with patency to irrigation), or failure (anatomical failure with persistent/recurrent tearing).
Results :
The mean follow-up time for group 1 was 5.7±1.5 months vs. 8.9±6.9 months for group 2. Full success was achieved in 50% of group 1 patients (2 eyes) vs. 40% of group 2 patients (4 eyes). Partial success was achieved in 50% of group 1 patients (2 eyes) vs. 60% of group 2 patients (6 eyes). None of the patients had failure of the procedure. There were no incidences of dacryocystitis, punctal erosion from silicone tubing, or canalicular obstruction in either group.
Conclusions :
Balloon-assisted endoDCR to the middle meatus is an efficacious modality in the treatment of acquired NLDO in patients that are suffering from epiphora. Balloon-assisted EndoDCR is equally effective and may be more effective than traditional EndoDCR without balloon.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.