title: Outcomes of 9 mm balloon-assisted endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy: retrospective review of 97 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To retrospectively analyze the success rate of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy procedures performed by a single surgeon utilizing a novel 9mm endonasal balloon.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective clinical study was performed on 78 adult patients, 97 cases in total. All patients presented with nasolacrimal duct obstruction and underwent an endoscopic dacryocycstorhinostomy utilizing a 9 mm endonasal ballon. All patients completed follow-up from February 2003 to February 2009. Surgical success was defined as relief of epiphora and a patent surgical ostium demonstrated by free irrigation of saline through the nasolacrimal system 1 month after tube removal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surgical success was achieved in 89 of the 97 cases (92%) following the primary surgery. Only 3 cases had revision surgery following the primary procedure. One of the 3 was successful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy utilizing a 9mm endonasal balloon has several advantages: it requires minimal instrumentation, does not require power drills or burrs, is quick with minimal bleeding, has a low complication rate, and a high success rate. Endoscopic balloon dacryocystorhinostomy offers a simpler endoscopic approach for the treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction, and is easily mastered by the Ophthalmic surgeon.
authors.affiliation: Family Eye Group, Vision Science Department, Lancaster, PA 17601, United States.
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Silbert
authors.forename: Noelle S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Matta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome