title: Outcomes after endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy without mucosal flap preservation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes of powered endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) without the preservation of mucosal flaps for the management of acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was performed of patients undergoing endoscopic DCR without mucosal flap preservation from May 2003 to October 2006 at a tertiary referral medical center. Twenty-seven procedures were performed on 20 patients with epiphora secondary to acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Main outcome measures were subjective improvement in epiphora and assessment of anatomic patency based on lacrimal irrigation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean follow-up was 16 months. Mild intermittent postoperative epiphora or complete resolution of epiphora was noted in 100% (27/27) of procedures; complete resolution was recorded in 93% (25/27) of procedures. Eighteen patients (25 procedures) were available for lacrimal irrigation at a mean of 16 months follow-up. Anatomic patency was confirmed in 100% (25/25) of procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results with endoscopic DCR are comparable with previously published outcomes. These data suggest that successfully powered DCR may be performed without the preservation of mucosal flaps.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Vijay R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Ramakrishnan
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hink
authors.forename: Vikram D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Durairaj
authors.forename: Todd T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Kingdom
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome