LAUSR

BACKGROUND To assess the annual incidence, surgical technique preferred (i.e. external versus endonasal) and the characteristics of patients undergoing a Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) in France over a 10-year-period. METHODS A national observational cohort study was conducted in France between January 2010 and December 2019. Data were collected from the national PMSI (Programme de Médicalisation des Sytèmes d'Information) database provided by the CNAM (Caisse Nationale de l'Assurance Maladie). All patients undergoing a DCR were included. RESULTS Twenty-one thousand one hundred ninety-nine patients, with a mean age of 70.4 years, were included. A female predominance (78%) was noted. The mean annual number of DCRs was 2481 (2366-2633), corresponding to a mean incidence of 3.8 per 100,000 person-years. This number remained stable over the study period (p = .966). Of the 24,808 DCRs, external DCRs were more prevalent compared to endonasal procedures (70.8% vs. 29.2%, p = .0001). Six hundred and fifteen (2.5%) associated acts were performed intraoperatively, mainly during endonasal DCR (96.3%). A total of 10,857 (43.8%) silicone stents were placed intraoperatively. Bicanalicular silicone stenting was preferred over the monocanalicular stenting. All the regions performed more likely external DCR except the Île-de-France area where endonasal DCR was performed in 75.6% of procedures. DCRs were mainly performed by an ophthalmologist (80%). CONCLUSION The mean annual incidence of external and endonasal DCRs remained stable over the study period. Endonasal DCR was more likely performed by the otorhinolaryngologists, emphasizing the need to develop personalized endonasal training in the ophthalmology residency program.