Quality of life outcomes following dacryocystorhinostomy: external and endonasal laser techniques compared

Abstract

AIMS/BACKGROUND. Endonasal laser dacryocystorhinostomy (ELDCR) has recently become established as an alternative technique to conventional external DCR (EXDCR) for relief of epiphora. The aim of this study was to compare quality of life and symptomatic outcomes in patients treated by these two methods. METHODS. A postal questionnaire was sent to 204 ELDCR and 78 EXDCR patients who had undergone surgery under our care more than 6 months previously. The questionnaire included the validated 18-item Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) and 5 further questions addressing ocular symptomatology. RESULTS. Fully completed questionnaires were received from 156 ELDCR and 50 EXDCR patients. Mean GBI scores of +16.8 (ELDCR) and +23.2 (EXDCR) were obtained (Mann-Whitney U test = NS). Ocular symptom scores were +33 (ELDCR) and +54 (EXDCR) (p=0.005). CONCLUSION. Patients undergoing either ELDCR or EXDCR experience significant benefit in their healthcare status as detected by the GBI. There is no significant difference between the scores obtained by the two groups of patients. There were improvements in ocular symptom scores in both groups, with patients who had EXDCR scoring significantly better than the ELDCR group.

Long-Term Patient Satisfaction of External Dacryocystorhinostomy

“…We can also support the findings of Bakri et al[ 10] who found a significant improvement in the patient’s subjective opinion of quality of life after dacryocystorhinostomy. The patient’s subjective evaluation of the EDCR results is probably the most important item to evaluate the outcome of the operation.…”

Outcomes of septal surgery

“…15 13.3 Laser DCR 16 16.8 Acoustic neuroma surgery 17 26.6 Ã Present study. GBI ¼ Glasgow benefit inventory; CI ¼ confidence intervals; FESS ¼ functional endoscopic sinus surgery; BAHA ¼ bone-anchored hearing aid insertion; DCR ¼ dacryocystorhinostomy N J CALDER, I R C SWAN 1062…”

Lacrimal drainage obstruction and dacryocystorhinostomy in children

“…15,16 The success rate for endonasal DCR (endo-DCR) has been reported as comparable to external DCR by some authors, [17][18][19][20] but less successful than external DCR by others. [21][22][23][24] The primary procedure success rate in our series was 95.2%. Five of 104 cases needed revision DCR for resolution of symptoms, and 84% of our patients were asymptomatic or had occasionally mild epiphora after the initial procedure.…”

“…Additionally, it can simultaneously treat any associated nasal pathology, 3,24,27 and can be performed simultaneously on both sides under general anaesthesia as a day procedure. A recent report indicated that despite a narrower nasal cavity in children, removal of bone was relatively easy and no difficulty or difference in the procedure was found in comparison with adults.…”