Endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy in the treatment of acute abscessed dacryocystitis

Aim. Estimation of acute abscessed dacryocystitis endosurgery treatment long term results. Methods. A retrospective analysis of a group including 16 patients with acute dacryocystitis and lacrimal sac abscess in whom endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy was performed as a primary procedure. Mean age was 57 years. All operations were performed under general anesthesia. To remove the mucous membrane of the lateral wall of the nose and the medial wall of the lacrimal sac, we used the Coblator® II radio wave cold plasma ablator (RF8000E) (USA). The bone window was formed using a SONOCA 185 ultrasonic bone dissector from Soring (Germany) with an oscillation frequency of 35 kHz. The operation was completed by bicanalicular intubation with FCI’s Bika silicone system. Results. Mean post-op follow-up period was 6 months. Lacrimal ducts passability was achieved in 13 of 16 patients (81,25 %). Three patients (18,75 %) had recurrent epiphora after surgery and underwent reoperations. In one of them (6,25 %) granuloma formation around the dacryostoma was found and in two (12,5 %) membranous obstruction of the anastomosis occurred. In all the patients pain has ceased within 3 days post-oр. Medial eyelids edema and erythema have gradually ceased in 2 days and completely resolved in 7–10 days. Conclusions. Success rate (81,25 %) in long-term functional results of endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy operations shows high efficacy of our methods of nasolacrimal anastomosis formation in the treatment of patients with acute dacryocystitis and lacrimal sac abscess. Key words: endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy; lacrimal sac abscess; ultrasound bone dissection; cold plasma ablation.