Comparison of nonlaser nonendoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy with external dacryocystorhinostomy.

Objective: To compare the success rate of nonlaser nonendoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR) with that of externalDCR(EX-DCR).

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Participants: Eighty-eight patients that underwent 102 consecutive EN-DCR or EX-DCR between November 1, 1995, and September 1, 2003.

Methods: All DCRswere performed by a single ophthalmologist. The surgical protocol remained constant, and surgical success was defined as a lack of symptoms that indicated DCR or normal canalicular irrigation.

Results: Eighty-eight patients were reviewed, equating to 102 cases ofDCR (56 EX-DCRand 46 EN-DCR). The average age of patients was 63.2±18.2 years old (range, 19-93 years), and the average duration of surgery was 32.1 minutes for EX-DCR and 23.3 minutes for ENDCR (p < 0.0001). Three cases of intraoperative bleed requiring nasal packing were documented in EX-DCR and 2 cases in EN-DCR. The success rates were 89.8% and 90.2% for EX-DCR and EN-DCR, respectively. There was no statistical difference between these 2 numbers. The average follow-up time was 12.8 months (median, 5 months; range, 2-97 months).

Conclusions: We found that the endonasal approach to DCRs was quicker than the external approach and the success and complication rates of both methods were comparable.