[Surgical treatment of the lacrimal apparatus--technics and results]

After a short review of anatomy the clinical and radiological diagnosis of stenoses of the lacrimal duct system are discussed in detail. Microcatheterdacryocystography and high resolution CT are very important in determining the indications for surgery. Microsurgical endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy is preferred for treatment of postsaccal stenoses. It is also the method of choice for one stage definitive therapy of acute lacrimal sac empyema. Surgical reconstruction in cases of presaccal stenoses is difficult and should be handled individually. For intubation of the canaliculi we have developed a special modified pigtail-hollow-probe (Draf-Haag 1981), which reduces damage to the epithelium. If reconstruction of the natural lacrimal duct system is not possible, a conjunctivorhinostomy by Walter's technique is indicated. The different surgical concepts and results are discussed.