Increased Concomitant Nasal Procedure Frequency in Bilateral Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy

The etiology of primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) is unknown, and the disease may exist bilaterally in a small number of patients. Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery is the recommended treatment for these patients, but concomitant nasal pathologies are believed to be related to decreased surgical success. The authors aim to assess the concomitant required nasal surgical procedure frequency for endoscopic surgical access retrospectively in bilateral and unilateral NLDO patients. Twenty-eight patients who underwent bilateral endoscopic DCR simultaneously and 30 patients who underwent unilateral endoscopic DCR were enrolled in this retrospective study. Required concomitant nasal procedure frequency was recorded. In the bilaterally applied DCR group, septoplasty, partial midline turbinectomy, and inferior nasal concha submucosal resection rates were 16 (57.1%), 5 (17.8%), and 3 (10.7%) patients, respectively. Septoplasty and concha bullosa resection were performed simultaneously in 2 patients. Also, uncinectomy was performed with septoplasty in 1 patient. The concomitant nasal surgery rate was 22 of 28 patients (78.6%). On the other hand, in the unilaterally applied DCR group, septoplasty, partial midline turbinectomy, and inferior nasal concha submucosal resection rates were 5 (16.7%), 1 (3.3%), and 2 (6.7%) patients, respectively. Both septoplasty and concha bullosa resection were done in 1 patient. Uncinectomy was performed on 1 (3.3%) patient. A concomitant surgery rate was observed in 8 of 30 patients (26.7%). Nasal pathology, which requires surgical intervention, is seen much more frequently in bilateral than in unilateral NLDO patients.