title: Endoscopic transcanalicular diode laser dacryocystorhinostomy:  is it an alternative method to conventional external dacryocystorhinostomy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the success rates of endoscopic transcanalicular diode laser dacryocystorhinostomy (EL-DCR) and external DCR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Operations were performed on 55 eyes of 54 patients who had distal nasolacrimal canal obstruction. External DCR was performed on 29 of the eyes and EL-DCR on 26 of them. Success was defined based on subjective relief of patients reported at their final examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 23 women and 6 men in group 1 and 19 women and 6 men in group 2 (p = 0.77). The mean ages of groups were 45.24 ± 12.08 (range, 15-74) and 43.2 ± 17.01 (range, 11-72) years, respectively (p = 0.63). The mean follow-up times were 8.82 ± 5.51 (range, 3-18) and 7.12 ± 2.96 (range, 2-12) months, respectively in groups (p = 0.58). The success rates based on symptoms were measured at 25 of 29 (86%) and 17 of 25 (68%) for 2 groups. The difference in the success rates was higher but not found to be statistically significant (p = 0.202). The authors found various conditions related to nasal passage in 4 of 8 unsuccessful EL-DCR, including allergic rhinitis, nasal crust, silicone tube reaction, and unsuitable passage for endoscopic surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The success rate of EL-DCR was lower than that of the external DCR; however, no statistically significant difference was observed. Endoscopic transcanalicular diode laser DCR may be considered as an alternative method to external DCR with these results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kutukde
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Derya
authors.forename: Soner
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demirel
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doganay
authors.forename: Gozde
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orman
authors.forename: Tongabay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cumurcu
authors.forename: Abuzer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gunduz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation / Q000379:methods; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012826:Silicone Elastomers