Predictors of anatomical patency following primary endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy: a pilot study

To identify factors influencing early anatomical patency following primary endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) for nasolacrimal obstruction.

A prospective study of 50 patients who underwent primary endonasal DCR for nasolacrimal obstruction was undertaken. Age, gender, dacryocystitis, endonasal access, clearance (bony clearance superiorly from the common canaliculus after bone removal), mobility (mobility of the flaps created from the lacrimal sac once opened), marsupialization (degree of reflection of the lacrimal sac following surgical opening) and a combined score (incorporating clearance, mobility and marsupialization) were examined. Outcomes were measured 10 weeks postoperatively by assessing anatomical patency via probe and syringe and modified functional endoscopic dye test.

Using the Kendall's tau-beta test, there was a significant relationship between greater mobility and better outcome (p<.03) and greater marsupialization and better outcome (p=.03). A higher combined score (incorporating mobility, marsupialization and bony clearance) was also related to better outcome (p<.02). There was no significant relationship between outcome and age, gender, dacryocystitis, endonasal access or bony clearance. Overall, 47 patients (94%) had complete or partial patency at 10 weeks and 3 patients (6%) had complete nasolacrimal obstruction at 10 weeks.

Greater flap mobility and greater lacrimal sac marsupialization in endonasal DCR are associated with better rates of early anatomical patency. A novel scoring system incorporating mobility, marsupialization and bony clearance also showed a significant relationship to early outcome, with higher scores being associated with better outcomes. These results may enable greater understanding of the perioperative features associated with better outcomes in endonasal DCR.