Endoscopic laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy

Purpose: This study evaluates the efficacy of endoscopic laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy (LADCR) in the treatment of epiphora and chronic dacryocystitis. Patients and Methods: Treatment results were prospectively reviewed for 17 patients undergoing 19 LADCR procedures of which 12 were primary and 7 were revision cases. Silastic intubation tubing was removed after surgery at a mean of 76.5 days in the primary cases and 184 days in the revision cases. Patients were followed-up for a mean of 15.6 months (range, 5 to 25 months). Results: LADCR was successful in 100% of primary cases and 60% of revision procedures. The only complications were 2 conjunctival fistula, which closed without sequela. Conclusion: The efficacy of primary LADCR is comparable to reported external approaches. The success of revision LADCR is less favorable, yet the number of cases reported here is too small to reach a conclusion. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.