[Corrective techniques of lacrimal obstruction in the vertical system].

PURPOSE

To describe current surgical techniques of dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) and to compare their effectiveness by analysing the advantages and disadvantages between external, endonasal and transcanalicular surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 91 DCRs were analysed using a retrospective, cross-sectional and multicentre study in 75 patients who had symptoms of nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Of these, 28 were operated using external DCR, 31 endonasal technic, and 32 transcanalicular DCR with diode laser. Outcomes were evaluated subjectively using patient symptoms for the grade of epiphora and the results from the syringing before and after surgery.

RESULTS

External DCR was performed in 28 cases, with 19 cases asymptomatic (67.85%), and 20 patients had a patent tract (71.42%). Endonasal DCR was performed in 31 cases, of which 19 cases were asymptomatic (61.29%), and 21 showed patency of the nasolacrimal duct (67.74%). A transcanalicular technique was performed in 32 cases, with absence of epiphora in 24 patients (75%), and the syringing was successful in 24 of them (75%).

CONCLUSIONS

Any of these 3 surgery techniques would be an adequate treatment for lacrimal obstruction, due to the significant development of endonasal and transcanalicular techniques in recent decades. With improvement, we could use either endonasal or transcanalicular techniques with diode laser with the same lever of effectiveness as the classic external approach, with the advantages of minimally invasive surgery.