title: Endoscopic terminal dacryocystorhinostomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Traditional endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) involves creation of a lacrimal sac side hole that may close down in the presence of a partially patent lower lacrimal drainage system. Endoscopic terminal DCR is a modified DCR procedure designed to prevent this problem.
  
  
  METHODS
  From September 1996 to June 1999, 16 patients (17 sides) had endoscopic terminal DCR that involved resection of the lacrimal sac-duct junction to achieve total separation of the lacrimal sac from the nasolarcrimal duct and creation of a terminal DCR opening.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten of the 17 DCRs were primary and 7 were revisions. The follow-up ranged from 3 to 36 months. There were two failures. One failure was due to canalicular obstruction and the other was due to prolapse of orbital fat hindering proper fashioning of the mucosal flap. The overall success rate was 88%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Instead of creating a side hole in the lacrimal sac as proposed by most endoscopic DCR studies, we advocate total diversion of tear flow by performing a terminal DCR opening that would further improve the success rate of endoscopic DCR, particularly in cases of idiopathic and partial obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Sham
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: van Hasselt
mesh_terms: D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome