J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2004 Apr;45(4):533-539.

A Clinical Study in Patients with Membranous Obstruction of Internal Ostium and No Epiphora Who Underwent Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy

• Park JS
• Lee TS
• Kim JS

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate an extra passage of tears in patients with no epiphora and no visible ostium after endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy. METHODS: We reviewed charts of 13 patients who had undergone endonasal DCR from April 1992 to May 1999. All Patients had no epiphora and no visible internal ostium for the follow up period. Dye disappearance test, endonasal endoscopic evaluation, dacryocystogram, and primary Jones dye test were performed to evaluate whether another lacrimal passage is present or not. RESULTS: Postoperative dye disappearance tests were negative in all patients. Membranous obstruction was seen on the endoscopy in all patients. Fluorescein dye of the primary Jones dye test was undetected in corresponding areas of internal ostium near the middle turbinate in any patient, however the dye was seen at the inferior turbinate in seven eyes. Dacryocystogram showed normal lacrimal drainage in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: After the endonasal DCR, it was possible to drain the tear through normal nasolacrimal passage by reopenging the obstructed upper portions of the nasolacrimal duct.

Keyword

Endonasal DCR; Normal nasolacrimal passage; Ostium

MeSH Terms

Dacryocystorhinostomy*
Drainage
Endoscopy
Fluorescein
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases*
Nasolacrimal Duct
Turbinates
Fluorescein