UK survey of the present role of ear, nose and throat surgeons in lacrimal surgery.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to evaluate the current involvement of ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons in lacrimal surgery.


METHODS
A postal survey was distributed to 796 practicing UK consultant otorhinolaryngologists listed at the drfoster website.


RESULTS
Overall, 531 questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 66.7%. Of these, 108 (20.6%) respondents indicated they were involved in lacrimal surgery. The majority of otolaryngologists seem to work in collaboration with ophthalmologists. In our survey, 98% (106) perform endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). Most respondents believed lacrimal intubation and dilation to have limited success, endoscopic DCR to have moderate success and external DCR to have high success.


CONCLUSIONS
Lacrimal surgery is carried out in a spirit of collaboration with ophthalmologists rather than competition. Endoscopic DCR is the favoured surgical procedure of otolaryngologists. The perceived success rate for endoscopic DCR reported in this survey coincides with that reported in the literature.
Al-Shaikh
Salim
S
Department of ENT, Kettering General Hospital, Kettering, UK.
Javed
Faisal
F
Fincham
Gregory
G
Latif
Mohamed
M
Bhutta
Mahmood
M
D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007766:Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D010819:Physician's Role; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom