title: Pediatric endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nasolacrimal duct obstruction is a relatively common problem among children. Although spontaneous resolution is possible and various conservative treatment options are available, dacryocystorhinostomy is recommended for persistent epiphora. The aim of this study was to report our experience of performing 83 procedures of pediatric endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study included 71 children who underwent endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy between 2000 and 2011. Thirteen of these children had bilateral procedures. The diagnosis of nasolacrimal duct obstruction was based on the presence of eye discharge, the patient's history obtained from his or her parents and the results of testing the patency of the nasolacrimal canal by irrigating the lacrimal sac. The procedure was considered to be successful if the patient's eye discharge was completely resolved and the dacryocystorhinostomy ostium was patent at end of the postoperative first year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-three dacrycystorhinostomy procedures were performed in 71 children. There were 35 (49.3%) male and 36 (50.7%) female patients. The age of the patients ranged between 11 months and 14 years, with a mean of 8.9 years. The mean follow-up period was 27.1 months (range of 14-84 months). The overall success rate for primary endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy was 92.7%. No major complications were encountered in any of the surgical procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pediatric endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy is a safe and effective procedure to correct nasolacrimal system obstruction in cases that are unresponsive to conservative treatments. It has a high success rate and a low incidence of complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, Turkey. facelenk@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Celenk
authors.forename: Semih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mumbuc
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Durucu
authors.forename: Zeynel A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Karatas
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aytaç
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baysal
authors.forename: Muzaffer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanlikama
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009296:Nasal Cavity; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct; D057605:Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy; Epiphora; Pediatric