The effectiveness of postoperative early ostium cleaning in transcanalicular diode laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To search the effectiveness of postoperative first week ostium cleaning in transcanalicular diode laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy (TDL-DCR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 123 eyes of 123 patients with acquired dacryostenosis who had surgery were retrospectively evaluated. Diode laser was used in all patients. All patients were operated under local anesthesia by a single surgeon. Intranasal endoscopic cleaning of the ostium by surgical suction under local anesthesia was performed as an extra job in the postoperative first week visit. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 55 (range, 41-78 years) years. Mean follow up was 13.4 months. Successful outcomes were achieved in 117 of 123 (95.1%) patients. Reoperation was performed in 6 patients with restenosis and were free of symptoms in 1-year follow up. CONCLUSION: Postoperative first week cleaning of the nasal ostium by surgical suction with the aiding of nasal endoscopy is a very effective method increasing the success rate of TDL-DCR.