Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy in functional lacrimal obstruction.

INTRODUCTION

We performed endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy in cases diagnosed with both anatomical and functional lacrimal obstruction, and here report results for the latter cases.

METHODS

Sixty-eight endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomies were performed for functional obstruction on 44 patients. The indication for surgery was epiphora in 66 patients and recurrent dacryocystitis in two. The minimum follow up was six months.

RESULTS

There was complete cure in 44 (65 per cent) patients, partial cure in nine (13 per cent) and no improvement in 15 (22 per cent). Revision surgery was performed in five of the 15 cases with no improvement, after which there was an overall complete cure in 47 patients (69 per cent), partial cure in 10 (15 per cent) and no improvement in 11 (16 per cent).

DISCUSSION: Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy is indicated in cases of epiphora with a diagnosis of functional lacrimal obstruction. Currently available investigations cannot reliably distinguish partial anatomical obstruction from pump failure.