Management of chronic dacryocystitis cases after failed external dacryocystorhinostomy using endoscopic technique with a novel lacrimal ostium stent

AIM: To demonstrate the outcomes of endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy(En-DCR) with an novel lacrimal ostium stent(LOS) which was performed in patients with recurrent epiphora after failed external dacryocystorhinostomy(Ex-DCR) and analyze the causes of failed Ex-DCR.METHODS: From September 2015 and December 2017, the clinic data of 29 cases suffered from recurrent epiphora after failed Ex-DCR was reviewed.The LOS were implanted into the ostium at the end of the revisional surgery.The causes of failed Ex-DCR were analyzed before revisional surgeries.Outcome of revisional surgeries with the new device were evaluated as well.RESULTS: The major causes of failure of the external approach were synechiae formation in the nasal ostium(29/29), followed by inadequate removal of the bony wall(21/29), nasal synechiae formation between lateral wall of nose and middle turbinate(11/29), and the bone opening was not in good location(7/29).The rate of success after revisional surgery was 82.76%.Re-obstruction of the ostiums were found in 5 failed cases.CONCLUSION: Endoscopic approach with a novel LOS may be an effective procedure to manage recurrent epiphora after previous failed Ex-DCR surgery.Synechiae formation in the nasal ostium and inadequate removal of the bony wall were the major causes of failure of Ex-DCR.