[Outcomes of inferior access external dacryocystorhinostomy performed by residents].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the outcomes of external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCREx) performed by residents at the Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, comparing the cases operated on by residents and the cases operated on by staff surgeons.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective study between January 2006 and December 2007 of all DCREx performed at our hospital. The operations involved 65 cases from 54 patients: 16 operations were performed by residents and 49 by staff surgeons. The cases were divided into two groups: cases operated on by residents and cases operated on by staff surgeons, and the following variables were studied: epidemiologic characteristics of the patients (age, sex), side of intervention, antecedents of lacrimal sac inflammation, type of anesthesia, intrasurgical and postsurgical complications and results. <<Anatomic success>> was defined as the possibility to pass physiologic serum through the lacrimal pathway and <<functional success>> if the patient in addition was without symptoms of epiphora.


RESULTS
The procedure was successful in 88% of cases: 80% were classified as <<functional success>> while only 8% were considered <<anatomic success>>. The operations performed by residents were successful in 81% of cases (75% <<functional success>> and 6% <<anatomic success>>), whereas staff surgeons achieved success in 90% of cases (82% <<functional success>> - 8% <<anatomic success>>).


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that residents with suitable training and supervision can achieve good success rates approaching those of staff surgeon outcomes, without additional complications (Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol 2009; 84: 501-506).
Mascaró-Zamora
F
F
Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, España.
Toribio-García
J A
JA
Barberá-Loustaunau
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome