Primary treatment of acute dacryocystitis by endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy with silicone intubation guided by a soft probe.

PURPOSE: To investigate the suitability of cold steel endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EES-DCR) with circular bicanalicular intubation with silicone tubes (CBIST) guided by a soft probe for the primary treatment of acute purulent dacryocystitis (APD).

DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, interventional case series.

PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-two patients (59 females, 13 males) with a median presenting age of 55+/-12 years (range, 28-71 years).

METHODS: Eighty-four patients with unilateral APD were equally and randomly divided into 2 groups. Cold steel EES-DCR was performed after the lacrimal abscess formation, and external dacryocystorhinostomy (E-DCR) was performed 1 to 2 weeks after resolution of the acute inflammation. In both groups, CBIST guided by a soft probe was performed and the silicone tubes were kept in the lacrimal passages for 3 months. Postoperative follow-up ranged from 12 to 24 months. Outcomes were compared between both groups, considering resolution time for external acute inflammation, success rate of free lacrimal passage reconstruction, and lack of complications as indicators of treatment suitability.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Time for resolution of the external acute inflammation, success rate of free lacrimal passage reconstruction, and complications.

RESULTS: In this study, complete postoperative data were acquired from 40 patients in the EES-DCR group and from 32 patients in the E-DCR group, and the outcomes were compared. Acute inflammation resolved more quickly in the EES-DCR group than in the E-DCR group (P<0.05). Ostium patency at 12 months after silicone tube removal was achieved in significantly more patients in the EES-DCR group (36/40 [90%]) than in the E-DCR group (21/32 [65.7%]; P<0.01). In the EES-DCR group, lacrimal passage reconstruction failed because of intranasal ostial closure in 3 patients and because of common canaliculus obstruction in 1 patient. In the E-DCR group, lacrimal passage reconstruction failed because of intranasal ostial closure in 3 patients, lacrimal sac fibrosis, granulation, or both in 6 patients, and common canaliculus obstruction in 2 patients. Other than the slight laceration of the inferior puncta, no significant complications arose from the treatments.

CONCLUSIONS: Cold steel EES-DCR with CBIST guided by a soft probe is a promising alternative for the primary treatment of APD with abscess formation.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.