THREE-YEAR OUTCOME OF PEDIATRIC DACRYOCYSTORHINOSTOMY FOR TREATMENT OF CONGENITAL NASOLACRIMAL DUCT OBSTRUCTION

Purpose: to retrospectively compare the success rates of external and endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery performed for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Methods: 79 patients with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction that had either external DCR (41, group 1) or endoscopic DCR (38, group 2) and completed 3 year duration after surgery were included in this study. Results: 38 patients in group 1 (92.7%) and 30 patients in group 2 (78.9%) showed success of surgery after 3 years of surgery, defining success as relief of symptoms plus endoscopic visualization of the patent stoma (p value 0.079). Conclusion: Although the endoscopic approach of pediatric DCR has the advantages of the lack of skin incision, the preservation of the pump mechanism and the ability to address other nasal pathologies at the time of surgery, the external approach looks more successful on the long run.