A rationale for the selection of nasal decongestants in lacrimal drainage surgery.

Adequate hemostasis during lacrimal drainage surgery affects the success of the operation. Nasal decongestants, which are sympathomimetric agents including sympathomimetic amines and imidazoline derivatives, help to decrease bleeding. Certain of the imidazoline derivatives--oxymetazoline and xylometazoline--are potent and long-acting agents that have many of the same adrenergic effects as cocaine. Their use as an alternative to cocaine provide adequate hemostasis with less adverse reactions than cocaine. The authors recommend premedication of the nasal mucosa with oxymetazoline or xylometazoline before lacrimal drainage surgery for obtaining maximal nasal mucosal decongestion.