[Outcomes of inferior access external dacryocystorhinostomy performed by residents]

To assess the outcomes of external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCREx) performed by residents at the Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, comparing the cases operated on by residents and the cases operated on by staff surgeons.

We performed a retrospective study between January 2006 and December 2007 of all DCREx performed at our hospital. The operations involved 65 cases from 54 patients: 16 operations were performed by residents and 49 by staff surgeons. The cases were divided into two groups: cases operated on by residents and cases operated on by staff surgeons, and the following variables were studied: epidemiologic characteristics of the patients (age, sex), side of intervention, antecedents of lacrimal sac inflammation, type of anesthesia, intrasurgical and postsurgical complications and results. <> was defined as the possibility to pass physiologic serum through the lacrimal pathway and <> if the patient in addition was without symptoms of epiphora.

The procedure was successful in 88% of cases: 80% were classified as <> while only 8% were considered <>. The operations performed by residents were successful in 81% of cases (75% <> and 6% <>), whereas staff surgeons achieved success in 90% of cases (82% <> - 8% <>).

The results show that residents with suitable training and supervision can achieve good success rates approaching those of staff surgeon outcomes, without additional complications (Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol 2009; 84: 501-506).