Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy: our experience and literature review

Objective: To present our experience in endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy, discussing the results with those found in the literature. Methods: The material in this study consisted of sixteen surgeries performed in twelve patients followed between 2009 to 2011. We analyzed gender, age at surgery, etiology of dacryocystitis, clinical features, number of surgeries required to repair, follow-up. Results: There was a predominance of females compared to males (5:1) aged between 8 and 71 years, mean35.2 years. With regard to etiology, eight were classified as idiopathic, three, posttraumatic, and one, iatrogenic. Patients were followed on average over the period of six months, with improvement of symptoms. Only two patients had persistence of epiphora, one being reoperated successfully by external approach. Conclusion: Endoscopic endonasal surgery should be considered in patients with lacrimal obstruction, due to its high success rate, besides being safe procedure with less morbidity and give better cosmetic results.