Complications of standardized endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy with unciformectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To report the nature and frequency of complications occurring with endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) based on routine unciformectomy.


METHODS
Prospective, noncomparative interventional consecutive case series study.


METHODS
Endonasal DCR was performed on 300 patients with complete nasolacrimal stenosis.


METHODS
The uncinate process was resected (unciformian endonasal DCR), except when the lacrimal fossa was anterior to its insertion (23 cases [7.7%]). Preoperative clinical assessment and computed tomography scans, intraoperative endoscopic video recording, and postoperative clinical and endoscopic follow-ups were analyzed for reported endonasal DCR failure and complications. The mean follow-up was 13+/-12.6 months (range, 1-57).


METHODS
Failure rate, nature, frequency, and time of intraoperative and postoperative complications.


RESULTS
Of the 300 patients treated, 39 (13%) suffered from residual epiphora and no passage upon irrigation; there was secondary canalicular stenosis in 2 cases (0.6%), sump syndrome in 4 cases (1.2%), a distal stenosis from progressive healing closure of the ostium in 21 cases (7.0%), a recurrence of lacrimal mucocele in 5 cases (1.7%), and adhesions between the ostium and septum in 2 cases (0.6%). Access to the surgical site required an anterior middle turbinectomy in 103 cases (34.3%) and a septoplasty in 1 case (0.3%). Intraoperative bleeding was minor in 183 (60.6%), moderate in 82 (27.3%), and severe in 35 cases (11.6%). Postoperative bleeding occurred in 4 cases, and was controlled by packing. Transient frontal sinusitis (n = 1), nasal mucosa burn (n = 1), cacosmia (n = 8), phlebitis (n = 1), and maxillary pain (n = 8) also occurred. Orbital fat prolapse, cerebrospinal fluid leaking, cutaneous scarring, diplopia, and loss of vision did not occur.


CONCLUSIONS
Complications from unciformian endonasal DCR may be less frequent or severe than with maxillary endonasal DCR, and comparable to or less frequent than those for external DCR.
Fayet
Bruno
B
Department of Ophthalmology, Hôtel-Dieu de Paris, University of Paris VI Medical School, 1 place du Parvis Notre-Dame, 75181 Paris Cedex 04, France. brunofayet@wanadoo.fr
Racy
Emmanuel
E
Assouline
Michael
M
D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome