Anastomosis of nasal mucosal and lacrimal sac flaps in endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy

Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is a well-established alternative to external approaches in the treatment of nasolacrimal canal obstruction. From July 2004 to December 2008, 92 endoscopic DCRs were performed on 88 patients at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan. All patients were affected by chronic dacryocystitis with epiphora. Preoperative work-up included Jones tests, lacrimal pathways irrigation, nasal endoscopy, and imaging evaluation by computed tomography. The technique involved anastomosis of nasal mucosal, lacrimal sac flaps and a large bony ostium. A silicone tube was inserted in all patients that remained for a period of 3 months. The first endoscopic intervention was successful in 91.30% of patients. After a second revision endoscopic DCR, the overall success rate raised to 95.65%. Anastomosis of nasal mucosal between lacrimal sac flaps plays a key role in endoscopic DCR with a high success rate both in primary nasolacrimal obstructions and in revision cases.