Abstract

Study Design: Hospital-based prospective study
Purpose: To study the safety and success rates of external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) Vs endoscopic endonasal DCR
Methodology:Patients with chronic dacryocystitis underwent either of the surgeries, and were followed up on Day 1, Week 1, Month 1, Month 3, and Month 6. Anatomical success was defined as the patency of NLD
Results: Group A (External DCR) had 21 and Group B (Endonasal DCR) had 20 patients. The surgical time Median (IQR) in Group A was 12.5(12-14) [Range 10-15], and in Group B was 74 (64-106),[Range 49-122]minutes. P=<0.001.Intraoperative complications were present in 3/21 (14.3%) patients in group A Vs 8/20 (40%) in group B. p=0.063.Anatomical success at the end of 1 Mo in Group A VS Group B was 19/21 (90.5%) Vs 16/20 (80%). P= 0.342, at the end of 3 Mo (and 6 Mo) was 20/21 (95.2%) Vs 17/20 (85.4%). P= 0.272
Conclusion:Group A had a comparatively better, yet statistically insignificant success rate than Group B