Powered Endoscopic Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy with Mucosal Flaps and Trimming of Anterior End of Middle Turbinate

Endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), when compared to external techniques, has always had guarded acceptance primarily due to inconsistent success rates. The most common cause of surgical failure in endoscopic DCR is very high/very low mucosal incision, obstruction of neo-ostium by granulation tissue, infolding of flap or formation of synechiae between middle turbinate and the neo-ostium site post-operatively. Several techniques and modifications have been suggested by various authors over the years since the first introduction of endoscopic endonasal DCR. With the newer techniques and advancements, the success rates have become comparable or even higher than external DCR. The aim of our study was to determine the success of endoscopic endonasal DCR using the classical Wormald technique with a few modifications. A total of 37 cases of epiphora secondary to nasolacrimal duct obstruction were operated using endoscopic endonasal DCR technique. The surgical technique included classical Wormald principle of mucosal flap, removal of the overlying bone using Kerrisons punch & chisel-hammer followed by vertical incision on the sac. The medial wall of lacrimal sac was then trimmed using microdebrider, thus apposing it to the nasal mucosal flaps. The anterior end of middle turbinate was also trimmed prophylactically to prevent synechiae formation. The outcome and long term patency of the cases were evaluated. Of the 37 cases, 35 cases (94.6 %) had complete resolution of the epiphora at the end of 1 year follow up period. The two cases of failure were due to canaliculitis in one patient and extensive granulation around the neo-ostium in another. Thus the above method has very good success rate comparable to previous studies and very less chances of granulation tissue formation and blockage of neo-ostium by synechiae/flap infolding.