Anatomical variants and bilateral lacrimal pathways surgery: avoiding unnecessary surgery.

Success rates (SR) of transcanalicular diode laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy (TCL DCR) may be affected by the presence of nasal anatomical variations and additionally by whether or not the pathology is bilateral. The aim is to determine whether it is necessary to perform preliminary nasal anatomical variations surgery and to determine whether bilateral cases may be operated simultaneously. We extracted the patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral TCL DCR and we compared SR across the different groups using ANOVA, Chi-square testing and logistical regression. 159 Lacrimal pathways were operated: 89 unilateral and 35 bilateral. Non-nasal anatomical variations (non-NAV) unilateral surgery returned a success of 72.72%. The mean SR for nasal anatomical variations (NAV) unilateral surgery was 70.1%. The SR for non-NAV bilateral surgery was 60.86%. The mean SR for nasal anatomical variations bilateral surgery was 58.33%. As we identified no significant differences in the SR for NAV and non-NAV patients, we can avoid simultaneous corrective surgery.

Influence of Septal Deviation on the Prognosis of Transcanalicular Diode Laser-Assisted Dacryocystorhinostomy.

Purpose. The objective of the present study is to determine whether the success rate in transcanalicular diode laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy (TCL DCR) is influenced by the variant septal deviation (SD). Methods. Patients were divided into two groups: one including operated lacrimal pathways (LP) with no anatomical nasosinusal variants and the other group of LP with SD. This study began on January 1, 2008, and ended on December 31, 2010, at Morales Meseguer Hospital. Variables were compared by means of ANOVA and a logistic regression model (LOGIT). Results. Out of the 159 LP operated on, 102 had no nasosinusal anatomic variant, but 39 LP were associated with SD. The first group evidenced a success rate of 67.64%, while the second group evidenced a success rate of 66.7%. Conclusion. We found no significant statistical differences between the success rates in the two groups (with SD and no anatomical variants). So we could avoid previous or concomitant septoplasty in some cases (mild and moderate SD).