Modified External Dacryocystorhinostomy in Primary Acquired Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction

Epiphora secondary to acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction is a common ophthalmic problem in adults requiring surgical management. External dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is a reliable but difficult surgical technique for the treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

To evaluate the success rate and complications of modified external DCR in patients with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

This hospital based prospective interventional study included 56 patients with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Diagnosis of nasolacrimal duct obstruction was made through irrigation of the nasolacrimal drainage system. All patients were operated by modified technique of external DCR with anastomosis of the anterior lacrimal and nasal mucosal flaps only, whereas posterior mucosal flaps were excised. Patients were followed up for a period of 6 months. During the follow up, success rate and complications if any were recorded. Success was defined objectively by a patent lacrimal passage on irrigation and subjectively by the absence of watering or discharge.

The mean age of the study population was 39.23 ± 10.66 years, and 78.6% of patients were females (male to female ratio 1:3.7). The average operation time was 36.48 ± 4.72 minutes. Objective and subjective success rates were 92.9% and 89.3%, respectively after a follow up period of 6 months. Intraoperatively, haemorrhage occurred in 3 patients (5.3%) and laceration of the nasal mucosa in 4 patients (7.1%). Postoperative complications included significant lid swelling and periorbital ecchymosis in 3 patients (5.3%), epistaxis in 2 patients (3.6%) and hypertrophic scar in 2 patients (3.6%).

These results suggest that modified external DCR with anterior flaps anastomosis only is a simple, safe, less time consuming surgical technique that is easy to perform, and the outcome is comparable to conventional DCR.