COMBINED SUBCILIARY AND ENDOSCOPIC DACRYOCYSTORHINOSTOMY ? A NOVEL APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: There are various techniques of dacryoscytorhinostomy for treating chronic nasolacrimal duct obstruction like endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), external DCR. Here, authors have discussed about a combined subciliary endoscopic technique. MATERIALS & METHODS: Prospective interventional study reporting 5 patients with chronic dacryocystitis undergoing subciliary endoscopic DCR. RESULTS: Pre-operative diagnosis was primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction in all cases. No other nasal procedures were performed at the time of surgery. In all patients nasolacrimal duct was patent at 6 months follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Our combined technique of endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy and subciliary approach has certain advantages over both endonasal and external dacryocystorhinostomy. A prospective comparative study to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of this surgical technique is under way.