[Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy: role of the ophthalmologist]

To evaluate the results of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) with or without support of the ophthalmologist.

A retrospective study of 100 cases of endoscopic DCR surgery conducted by an otolaryngologist between June 2008 and December 2009. Of the 100 cases, 50 were operated with surgical support of the ophthalmologist, who inserted Bowman probes in the upper and lower canaliculi, while in the other 50 cases it was the otolaryngologist who performed this, without support of the ophthalmologist. The evaluation of the results after 2 years included the subjective perception, the lacrimal patency after lacrimal syringing, and lacrimal functional test after modified Jones test.

Of the 100 DCR reviewed, more than 50% required complementary treatment by the otolaryngologist, mainly septoplasty. As for the resolution of epiphora, without support of the ophthalmologist, 75% the patients reported an overall subjective improvement, but this reached 92% in the surgical group with support of the ophthalmologist, which was a statistically significant difference.

Endoscopic DCR is effective in the treatment of epiphora, but its results improve when the ophthalmologist inserts the probes in the lacrimal canaliculi during the surgical procedure.