Purpose: To investigate feasibility of endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (EE-DCR) with an novel lacrimal ostium stent (LOS) intubation for patients with chronic dacryocystitis with small lacrimal sac.
Methods: Patients diagnosed as chronic dacryocystitis with small lacrimal sac who preferred to surgery treatment between March 1st, 2012 and May 1st, 2015. All included subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups (Group A and Group B). Cases in group A were performed EE-DCR with LOS intubation while cases in group B were underwent EE-DCR without LOS intubation. Demographic data of each cases were collected. The success rate and the surgical outcomes of 2 groups were compared.
Results: The success rate was much higher in group A than group B. At 3 months follow up, 61.6% of patients in group A exhibited scarring and/or granulation tissues around the ostium, which was significantly higher than the 36.4% of patients in group B. Of these patients with scars and/or granulation tissues, no statistical difference was found between 2 groups. Granuloma alone and scars with granuloma were observed in 10 patients and 2 patients, in group A and group B, respectively, resulting in a statistical significant difference for this outcome between the groups. At 9 months follow up and 12 months follow up, no significant statistical difference were found in the rate of scarring and/or granulation tissues, scars alone, granuloma alone and scars with granuloma between 2 groups.
Conclusions: EE-DCR with novel LOS may be an effective procedure to manage chronic dacryocystitis with small lacrimal sac.