LAUSR

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.