title: Comparison of nonlaser nonendoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy with external dacryocystorhinostomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the success rate of nonlaser nonendoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR) with that of externalDCR(EX-DCR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-eight patients that underwent 102 consecutive EN-DCR or EX-DCR between November 1, 1995, and September 1, 2003.
  
  
  METHODS
  All DCRswere performed by a single ophthalmologist. The surgical protocol remained constant, and surgical success was defined as a lack of symptoms that indicated DCR or normal canalicular irrigation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-eight patients were reviewed, equating to 102 cases ofDCR (56 EX-DCRand 46 EN-DCR). The average age of patients was 63.2±18.2 years old (range, 19-93 years), and the average duration of surgery was 32.1 minutes for EX-DCR and 23.3 minutes for ENDCR (p < 0.0001). Three cases of intraoperative bleed requiring nasal packing were documented in EX-DCR and 2 cases in EN-DCR. The success rates were 89.8% and 90.2% for EX-DCR and EN-DCR, respectively. There was no statistical difference between these 2 numbers. The average follow-up time was 12.8 months (median, 5 months; range, 2-97 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that the endonasal approach to DCRs was quicker than the external approach and the success and complication rates of both methods were comparable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Saskatoon City Hospital, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada. ra.walker@shaw.ca
authors.forename: Randy A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Ghoul
authors.forename: M Ronan
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Conlon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000378:metabolism; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult