Revison endonasal dacryocystorhinostomies: analysis of 44 procedures

To determine the success rate of revision endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomies (DCR) and to analyse 44 revision DCRs.

The operative and postoperative data were collected in 44 revision DCRs. The corrections of associated structural anatomic alterations were performed during the surgery (resection of the scarr, the bone window creating, resection of the head of the middle turbinate, septoplasty, ethmoidectomy etc.) and the intubation was performed in all cases.

The follow-up interval ranged from 12 to 36 months. The 44 ReEDCRs were performed in adults and there were only 5 children under the age of 15. The surgery was performed under local or general anaesthesia. The most frequent secondary procedures were scar resections, creating a wider bone window, and partial middle turbinate resection. Four patients were excluded for their follow-up periods had not been completed. An average time of the tubes removal was 5.6 months. The total success rate was 84.0%; the success rate was 85.7% in the group with closed rhinostomy and 1/2 in the group of canalicular and rhinostomy obstructions.

The endonasal revision DCR is a safe and very effective surgical procedure following the failed DCRs. The correction of associated structural anatomic alterations that may be involved in the failure of previous surgeries can be easily performed.