External dacryocystorhinostomy and local anesthesia: technique to measure minimized blood loss

To describe the techniques required to minimize blood loss in external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) under local anesthesia and to accurately measure the intraoperative blood loss through application of these techniques.

Prospective single-surgeon series to include the first 20 sequential external DCRs from June 2002. Hemostasis was maximized at each stage of the procedure. Blood loss was measured by attaching a collection pot to the first link in the vacuum tubing. Patient demographics and operative duration were recorded.

The mean blood loss was 4.5 mL (range, 1 to 14 mL). The mean operative duration was 36 minutes (range, 25 to 65 minutes). Seventy-five percent of patients were female and 25% were male. The mean age was 57 years (range, 48 to 76 years).

Intraoperative blood loss in external DCR can be reduced to a negligible level through careful patient preparation and operative technique. Minimal blood loss allows for patient comfort with DCR under local anesthesia.