Endoscopic assessment of the dacryocystorhinostomy ostium after powered endoscopic surgery: behaviour beyond 4 weeks

This study aims to assess the shrinkage of dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) ostium beyond 4 weeks.

Prospective series in a University setting.

Sixty consecutive patients.

Prospectively collected data of 60 consecutive powered endoscopic DCRs performed in 57 patients over a period of 10 years from 2002 to 2011. All patients had regular follow-up of 2 years post-surgery. The ostium size at 4 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years were evaluated. Analysis of variance was used to compare the differences.

Changes in ostium measurements.

The ostium measured 11.25 mm (standard deviation [SD] = 1.7; 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 10.80-11.69) × 7.07 (SD = 1.4; 95% CI = 6.71-7.42) at 4 weeks. It measured 10.48 mm (SD = 1.6; 95% CI = 10.06-10.90) × 6.65 mm (SD = 1.2; 95% CI = 6.34-6.95) at 6 months, 10.22 mm (SD = 1.5; 95% CI = 9.81-10.61) × 6.52 mm (SD = 1.2; 95% CI = 6.20-6.80) at 1 year and 10.15 mm (SD = 1.5; 95% CI = 9.76-10.53) × 6.45 mm (SD = 1.2; 95% CI = 6.14-6.75). There was no statistically significant decrease in either the ostium size or the area up to 2 years following surgery.

The ostium achieved using the powered endoscopic DCR technique remains stable in size from 4 weeks to 2 years post-surgery. This likely reflects the advantages of this technique which facilitates healing by primary intention.