Are systemic antibiotics required during and after dacryocystitis-related dacryocystorhinostomy?

To compare the outcomes of patients with and without a history of dacryocystitis that undergo dacryocystorhinostomy without systemic intra- and post-operative antibiotics.

A retrospective review was performed to identify all cases of patients that received surgery under this paradigm and had at least three months of follow up care. Key demographic and outcome data were captured, and a statistical analysis was performed via a dedicated software package (Microsoft Excel, Redmond, WA).

For the study period, 83 patients without and 69 patients with a history of dacryocystitis were identified, and the two groups were not statistically significantly different in age, gender, or postoperative follow up duration (mean = 6.4 months for patients without and 6.3 months for those with dacryocystitis, respectively). No patient developed a postoperative infection or a recurrence of dacryocystitis during the follow up period.

While many surgeons routinely use systemic antibiotics in patients with a history of dacryocystitis who undergo dacryocystorhinostomy, these agents may not be necessary. As a result, patients may be able to avoid the complications and side effects inherent to systemic antibiotics. Large-scale, prospective studies will likely help to further clarify this issue.