Application of S-100 absorbable hemostatic patch in endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy: A randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of S-100 absorbable hemostatic patch coverage on anastomotic mucosa in endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (En-DCR).

METHODS

Two hundred and twenty-six patients with unilateral chronic dacryocystitis (CD) were randomly divided into two groups in a randomized controlled trial: the S-100 absorbable hemostatic patch group (group A) and the control group (group B). All patients underwent En-DCR. Group A received an S-100 absorbable hemostatic patch covering the wound approximately 2 mm around the ostium at the end of the En-DCR, whereas group B received no treatment. The patients were followed up for 12 months, and the mucosal epithelialization of the wound, granulation formation, bleeding, and success rate of ostial patency were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Our study included 106 patients in group A and 102 patients in group B. After 2 weeks, the intact mucosal epithelium lining the ostia was 96 in group A and 77 in group B. At 12 months follow-up, there were five patients with scars (4.7%) and seven patients with granulomas (6.6%) in group A, compared with 17 patients with scars (16.7%) and 18 patients with granulomas (17.6%) in group B. There were significant differences in scar formation and granuloma formation between the two groups (P = 0.007 and 0.007, respectively). The success rate of anastomotic patency was 92.5% (98/106) in group A and 78.4% (80/102) in group B (P < 0.05). Postoperative bleeding was more substantial in group B than in group A (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

S-100 absorbable hemostatic patch cover can reduce the risk of postoperative bleeding and improve the success rate of EN-DCR treatment of CD by promoting healing of the anastomotic mucosa and preventing wound scar and granuloma formation after EN-DCR.

Use of Mitomycin C in Dacryocystorhinostomy: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology

PURPOSE

To review the literature on the adjuvant use of mitomycin C (MMC) during dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) in adults with primary nasolacrimal duct obstructions (NLDOs) to determine the efficacy in improving functional and anatomic outcomes with an acceptable level of risk.

METHODS

A literature search conducted in November 2020 and updated in November 2022 yielded 137 articles. Twenty-four articles met the inclusion criteria and were rated for level of evidence by the panel methodologist. Inclusion criteria required controlled studies on the effect of MMC on outcomes of external, endoscopic endonasal, or diode laser-assisted transcanalicular DCR in adults with primary acquired nasolacrimal obstruction with 6 months minimum follow-up and at least 10 participants.

RESULTS

Six of the 24 articles were rated level I evidence, 15 level II , and 3 level III. In primary external DCR, MMC significantly improved functional outcomes in 3 of 9 series. In primary endoscopic endonasal DCR, MMC significantly improved functional outcomes in 1 of 9 series. In revision endoscopic endonasal DCR, MMC significantly improved functional success in 1 of 3 series. The use of MMC did not improve outcomes statistically in any diode laser-assisted transcanalicular DCR studies. Concentrations of MMC ranged from 0.05 to 1 mg/ml, with 0.2 mg/ml used most frequently in 12 series, with duration of application ranging from 2 to 30 minutes. Ostium size was significantly larger in MMC groups than in control groups at 6 months after surgery in 4 of 5 reporting studies. However, these larger ostia did not confer higher functional success rates. Reporting of adverse events related to MMC were rare, with delayed cutaneous wound healing reported in 1 of 750 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative use of MMC in external and endoscopic endonasal DCR has been shown to improve functional and anatomic outcomes compared with controls in some series, but there is no agreement on the recommended concentration or application time for MMC in DCR. The data support that MMC use can result in a larger ostium size, decreased granulation tissue formation, and a decreased number of postoperative nasal debridements compared with controls, but this does not translate into improved functional success.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Salvage of impending rhinostomy failure after dacryocystorhinostomy with office-based microdebrider treatment

PURPOSE

This article is to introduce office-based salvage revision of impending rhinostomy failure after endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR), using a microdebrider.

METHODS

The authors conducted retrospective medical chart review of 27 eyes of 26 patients who underwent microdebrider treatment for impending rhinostomy failure in an office setting. After local anesthesia, obstructive soft tissue, interfering with ostium function (granuloma, cicatrization, synechia), was treated with a microdebrider (Osseoduo s120, Bien-Air Surgery, Le Noirmont, Switzerland) within 6 months after primary EN-DCR. Anatomical improvement and functional relief of epiphora were evaluated after revision.

RESULTS

The causes of impending rhinostomy failure were granuloma formation (17/27 eyes, 63.0%), cicatrization (8/27 eyes, 29.6%), and synechial formation (2/27 eyes, 7.4%). The surgery did not exceed 5 min in all cases, and partial damage to pre-placed silicone tubes occurred in the first two cases (7.4%). Salvage revision resulted in anatomical success in all eyes, based on patent syringing and a positive functional endoscopic dye test. All cases showed improvement of epiphora after revision surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Office-based salvage revision using a microdebrider provided effective management of impending rhinostomy failure during early follow-up period after primary EN-DCR. It enabled prompt management of excessive wound healing interfering with ostium function, while performing the routine postoperative nasal debridement.

Recurrent epiphora after dacryocystorhinostomy surgery: Structural abnormalities identified with dacryocystography and long term outcomes of revision surgery : Success rates of further surgery following failed dacryocystorhinostomy surgery

Background

To investigate the aetiopathology of recurrent epiphora or stickiness after dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery, identifiable on dacryocystography (DCG), and to assess the success rates of secondary corrective surgeries.

Methods

Consecutive post-DCR DCG images from patients with recurrent symptoms were reviewed between 2012 and 2015.

Results

One hundred fifty-nine eyes of 137 patients were evaluated. Fifty-eight DCGs showed normal postoperative findings, 4 an upper/lower canalicular block, 13 a common canalicular block, 31 a completely closed anastomosis, 50 a narrow anastomosis, and 3 an anastomosis draining into a nasal sinus.

The most successful corrective procedures for each failure category were: Lester Jones Tube (LJT) for a normal post-operative DCG (17/18 success), Sisler trephination with tubes for upper/lower canalicular block (1/2 success), redo-DCR with tube for common canalicular blockage (5/6 success), redo-DCR +/− tube for completely closed anastomosis (12/16 success), LJT followed by redo-DCR +/− tube for narrow surgical anastomosis (1/1 and 17/27 success respectively), and redo-external-DCR with tube for anastomosis into a nasal sinus (1/1 success). Redo-DCR was ineffective in patients who had good post-DCR anatomical patency (22% success).

Conclusion

This is the first study to report success rates of redo-DCR surgery according to anatomical findings confirmed by DCG. The outcome flow diagram help clinicians recommend procedures that are most likely to be successful for their patient’s specific anatomical abnormality. It also provides a visual tool for the shared decision-making process. Notably, symptomatic patients with a normal DCG post DCR are unlikely to benefit from redo-DCR, with a LJT being the recommended next step.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12886-021-01869-8.

Long-term Outcomes for Revision Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy-The Effect of the Primary Approach

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

Revision endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (END-DCR) is the preferred approach for failed primary surgeries, yet quality data on long-term outcomes are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate three aspects of revision END-DCR: 5-year success rates, patient satisfaction, and the primary surgical approach's possible impact on revision.

METHODS

This retrospective study included all revision END-DCRs conducted at Kaplan Medical Center between the years 2002 and 2015. For long-term follow-up analysis, two subgroups of first and second revision END-DCRs with a minimum of documented 5-year follow-up after surgery were defined. Data were analyzed according to the primary surgical approach. Surgical success was defined by either anatomical (observed patent lacrimal flow) or functional (symptoms cessation) success. Patient satisfaction was measured by a questionnaire.

RESULTS

After exclusions, a total of 45 eyes from 38 patients who underwent revision END-DCR surgeries were included in the study. The yearly success rates from immediate to 5 years following the first revision were 93.3%, 75.5%, 71.1%, 68.9%, 68.9%, and 68.9% for the entire cohort, respectively. Immediate and 5-year success rates following the second revision were 88.8% and 77.8%, respectively. Primary END-DCR showed favorable 5-year success rates and patient satisfaction over primary external dacryocystorhinostomy (EXT-DCR) in both first and second revisions, but this did not reach significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Revision END-DCR carries an excellent short-term success rate, which decreases mainly throughout the first 2 years following surgery. Postoperative follow-up should be maintained within this timeframe. Revision END-DCR following either primary endoscopic or EXT-DCR produces comparable surgical outcomes and patient-reported satisfaction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3b Laryngoscope, 131:E682-E688, 2021.

Antimetabolites as an adjunct to dacryocystorhinostomy for nasolacrimal duct obstruction

BACKGROUND

Nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) is a condition that results in the overflow of tears (epiphora) or infection of the nasolacrimal sac (dacryocystitis). The etiology of acquired NLDO is multifactorial and is not fully understood. Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is the surgical correction of NLDO, which aims to establish a new drainage pathway between the lacrimal sac and the nose. The success of DCR is variable; the most common cause of failure is fibrosis and stenosis of the surgical ostium. Antimetabolites such as mitomycin-C (MMC) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) have been shown to be safe and effective in reducing fibrosis and improving clinical outcomes in other ophthalmic surgery settings (e.g. glaucoma and cornea surgery). Application of antimetabolites at the time of DCR has been studied, but the utility of these treatments remains uncertain.

OBJECTIVES

Primary objective: To determine if adjuvant treatment with antimetabolites improves functional success in the setting of DCR compared to DCR alone. Secondary objectives: To determine if anatomic success of DCR is increased with the use of antimetabolites, and if the surgical ostium is larger in participants treated with antimetabolites.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Register for Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (which contains the Cochrane Eye and Vision Trials Register) (2019, Issue 9), Ovid MEDLINE, Embase.com, PubMed, LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature database), ClinicalTrials.gov, and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). We did not use any date or language restrictions in the electronic searches. We last searched the electronic databases on 6 September 2019.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We only included randomized controlled trials. Eligible studies were those that compared the administration of antimetabolites of any dose and concentration versus placebo or another active treatment in participants with NLDO undergoing primary DCR and reoperation. We only included studies that had enrolled adults 18 years or older. We also included studies that used silicone intubation as part of the DCR procedure.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Two review authors independently screened the search results, assessed risk of bias, and extracted data from the included studies using an electronic data collection form.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 31 studies in the review, of which 23 (1309 participants) provided data relating to our primary and secondary outcomes. Many of the 23 studies evaluated functional success, while others also assessed our secondary outcomes of anatomic success or ostium size, or both. Study characteristics Participant characteristics varied across studies, with the age of participants ranging from 30 to 70 years. Participants were predominantly women. These demographics correspond to those most frequently affected by nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Almost all of the studies utilized MMC as the antimetabolite, with only one using 5-FU. We assessed most trials as at unclear risk of bias for most domains. Conflicts of interest were not frequently reported, although the antimetabolites used are generic medications, and studies were not likely to be conducted for financial interest. Findings Twenty studies provided data on the primary outcome of functional success, of which 7 (356 participants) provided data at 6 months and 14 (909 participants) provided data beyond 6 months. At six months, the results showed no evidence of effect of antimetabolite on functional success (risk ratio (RR) 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98 to 1.29; low-certainty evidence). Beyond six months, the results favored the antimetabolite group (RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.25; moderate-certainty evidence). Fourteen studies reported data on the secondary outcome of anatomic success, of which 4 (306 participants) reported data at 6 months and 12 (831 participants) provided data beyond 6 months. Results at six months showed no evidence of effect of antimetabolite on anatomic success (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.11; low-certainty evidence). Beyond six months, participants in the antimetabolite group were more likely to achieve anatomic success than those receiving DCR alone (RR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.15; moderate-certainty evidence). At six months and beyond six months follow-up, two studies reported mean change in ostium size. We did not conduct meta-analysis for the various follow-up periods due to clinical, methodological, and statistical heterogeneity. However, point estimates from these studies at six months consistently favored participants in the antimetabolite group (low-certainty evidence). Beyond six months, while point estimates from one study favored participants in the antimetabolite group, estimates from another study showed no evidence of a difference between the two groups. The certainty of evidence at both time points was low. Adverse events Adverse events were rare. One study reported that one participant in the MMC group experienced delayed wound healing. Other studies reported no significant adverse events related to the application of antimetabolites.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is moderate-certainty evidence that application of antimetabolites at the time of DCR increases functional and anatomic success of DCR when patients are followed for more than six months after surgery, but no evidence of a difference at six months, low-certainty of evidence. There is low-certainty evidence that combining antimetabolite with DCR increases the size of the lacrimal ostium at six months. However, beyond six months, the evidence remain uncertain. Adverse effects of the application of antimetabolites were minimal.

Comparing Outcomes of the Standard Technique of Endoscopic DCR with Its Modifications: A Retrospective Analysis

Objective

To compare the outcomes of various techniques of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR).

Study Design

Retrospective case record analysis.

Settings

Tertiary care referral center.

Subject and Methods

Retrospective analysis of case records was carried out pertaining to the period from January 1996 to September 2017 with respect to patients who had undergone endoscopic DCR with either the standard technique or one of its modifications. Case notes showing well-documented preoperative evaluation, operative details, postoperative assessment, and minimum 6-month follow-up were considered. The outcomes were measured on the basis of patients’ postoperative symptoms, clinical examination, and sac-syringing results.

Results

A total of 423 patients were included in the study. Of these, 169 underwent standard endoscopic DCR; 87, endoscopic DCR with stent; 19, endoscopic DCR with mitomycin C; 62, powered DCR; 29, laser-assisted DCR; and 57, balloon DCR. There was no statistically significant difference in success rates, recurrences, or complications of various techniques at 3 or 6 months. Mean operating time was lowest for balloon DCR (mean ± SD, 27.1 ± 3.1 minutes), followed by standard endoscopic DCR (38.2 ± 3.6 minutes; P = .001).

Conclusion

Standard endoscopic DCR and its more sophisticated modifications were equally effective and safe in managing distal nasolacrimal drainage obstruction. Balloon DCR, followed by standard endoscopic DCR, was significantly faster than other techniques.

Causes of dacryocystorhinostomy failure: External versus endoscopic approach

OBJECTIVES

To compare the causes of failure between external and endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) techniques for the treatment of lacrimal obstruction.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 53 consecutive patients who underwent revision endoscopic DCR from 2002 to 2013 for lacrimal duct obstruction. Identified causes of previous DCR failure were compared between patients whose initial surgery was performed through an external versus an endoscopic approach.

RESULTS

Reasons for surgical failure after external (n = 21) versus endoscopic (n = 32) DCR included cicatricial closure of the internal lacrimal ostium (52.4 versus 53.1%; p = 0.96), inadequate removal of bone overlying the lacrimal sac (23.8 versus 9.4%; p = 0.15), sump syndrome (9.5 versus 9.4%; p = 0.99), and intranasal adhesions (65 versus 37.5%; p = 0.05). Adhesions that involved the middle turbinate were a particularly impactful cause of failure when the DCR was performed through an external versus the endoscopic approach (57.1 versus 28.1%; p = 0.04). Septoplasty was more likely to be needed at the time of revision surgery if the initial procedure was performed externally (71.1 versus 15.6%; p = 0.02). Surgical success rates for revision DCR were comparable between the groups (75.0% external versus 73.3% endoscopic; p = 0.90), with a mean follow-up of 12.7 months.

CONCLUSION

DCR failure associated with intranasal adhesions was more likely to occur when the surgery was performed through an external rather than an endoscopic approach. Endoscopic instrumentation allowed for identification and correction of intranasal pathology at the time of DCR, including an enlarged middle turbinate or a deviated septum, which may improve surgical outcome.

[The multidisciplinary approach to the diagnostics and surgical treatment of the lacrimal passages]

The primary objective of the present study was to highlight the current state of research on the pathology of the lacrimal organs based on the results of the analysis of the relevant publications in the domestic and foreign scientific literature. Special attention in this review is given to the problems of diagnostics, indications for the probing, the treatment and stenting strategies. The authors report their original observations contributing to the better understanding of the anatomical features of the nasolacrimal passages. In addition, the data on the principal pathogenic agents are presented together with certain peculiarities of the surgical treatment of the pathology under consideration.

[Mitomycin C after endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy]

Mitomycin-C (MMC) is the most frequently used agent for prevention of excessive scarring at the osteotomy site after endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (EEDCR), which, however, being applied during the final stage of the surgery, shows questionable effectiveness.

AIM

to evaluate the effectiveness of a new administration route of mitomycin C in EEDCR.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 86 patients (95 cases) in the age range of 62.3±9 years with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. All patients underwent P.J. Wormald modification of EEDCR and were further divided into 2 groups. In group 1, MMC was injected into the nasal cavity and lacrimal sac mucosa, while in group 2 it was applied locally according to the standard procedure. To measure tissue concentrations of MMC, mucosal biopsies were taken in patients of Group 1. Systemic absorption of MMC was studied through blood samples in both groups. Clinical efficacy was assessed in 14±5 months after surgery.

RESULTS

immediately after injection, the average tissue concentration of mitomicyn C in patients of Group 1, was 390±10 µg/g and 30 minutes later - 120±20 µg/g. No mitomycin C was found in Day 1 tissue samples and in any of the blood samples. Positive clinical results were reported in 97.9% of cases from Group 1 and in 87.2% of cases from Group 2.

CONCLUSION

The method of injecting MMC during the final stage of EEDCR has proved clinically effective and safe and can be recommended for use in clinical practice.

Research of Mitomycin-C saturation in dacryocystorhinostomy osteotomy site tissue

Introduction. Mitomycin-C is an alkylating antibiotic used to prevent excessive scar formation in the dacryostoma area after dacryocystorhinostomy. In vitro studies proved its inhibition effect on fibroblast growth in 0.2 mg/ml concentration. Up to date, clinical data on its efficacy remain contradictory. Aim. To evaluate the concentration of Mitomycin-C in nasal cavity and lacrimal sac mucosa after topical application and to determine the clinical efficacy of this procedure. Materials and methods. 30 patients with nasolacrimal duct obliteration underwent an endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy. At the end of the surgery, at the osteotomy site, a sponge soaked in Mitomycin-C 0,2 mg/ml was applied for 3 minutes. Nasal mucosa biopsy was performed immediately after application, in 30 minutes, and at the 1st day after surgery. Biopsy material analysis of was performed by liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry. The surgical treatment efficacy was established according to proposed efficacy criteria. Results. The analysis of Mitomicyn-C concentrations established them to be: 626 ± 176 ng/g tissue immediately after application, 230 ± 61 ng/g tissue in 30 minutes after application. In 24 hours after surgery, there was no Mitomycin-C in the tissue. Surgical efficacy was 86.7%, recurrences were found in 13.3% of cases. Conclusion. Surgery clinical results coincide with those obtained by other researchers. But chemical investigation showed that Mitomycin-C tissue concentration was lower than that in previous in vitro studies.

Mitomycin-C in dacryocystorhinostomy: From experimentation to implementation and the road ahead: A review

Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is the procedure of choice in patients with epiphora due to primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. The evolution of surgical tools, fiber-optic endoscopes, effective anesthesia techniques, and the adjunct use of antimetabolites intraoperatively; namely mitomycin-C (MMC) have significantly contributed to the advancement of DCR surgery. MMC is a systemic chemotherapeutic agent derived from Streptomyces caespitosus that inhibits the synthesis of DNA, cellular RNA, and protein by inhibiting the synthesis of collagen by fibroblasts. Even the cellular changes in the human nasal mucosal fibroblasts induced by MMC at an ultrastructural level have been documented. There, however, seems to be a lack of consensus regarding MMC: The dosage, the route of delivery/application, the time of exposure and subsequently what role each of these variables plays in the final outcome of the surgery. In this review, an attempt is made to objectively examine all the evidence regarding the role of MMC in DCR. MMC appears to improve the success rate of DCR.

Cause and Management of Patients With Failed Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy

Objectives

Endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is a well-established treatment method in patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction. However, there are a few reports about the overall management of failed endonasal DCR. We investigated the causes and management strategies of failed endonasal DCR.

Methods

This retrospective review included 61 patients (61 eyes) who had undergone revision surgery by the same surgeon after failed endonasal DCR between January 2008 and December 2012. The appropriate revision method was determined after analysis of the etiology of failure by the fluorescein dye disappearance test, nasal endoscopy, lacrimal irrigation, and probing. The criteria for success of the revision surgery were defined by the passage of fluid without resistance upon lacrimal irrigation and normalization of the tear meniscus height.

Results

The mean duration between the primary endonasal DCR and revision surgery was 15.3 months. The average follow-up period after revision surgery was 12.2 months. The most common cause of endoscopic revision surgery was membranous obstruction. Endoscopic revision surgery was performed in 48 patients, while lacrimal silicone tube intubation under endoscopy was performed in 13 patients. The most common indication for lacrimal silicone tube intubation was functional epiphora. The overall success rate of the revision surgery was 89%.

Conclusion

The most common cause of failed endonasal DCR was membranous obstruction. When patients with failed endonasal DCR presented at the clinic, it is important to identify the cause of the failure. Revision surgery could increase the final success rate of endonasal DCR.

[Therapeutic methods of scar prevention at the site of endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy]

Success rate of endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) varies from 82% to 91%. The bulk of unsatisfactory results is due to excessive scarring at the site of the created opening (dacryostoma, DS). Mitomycin C is the most extensively studied drug of those affecting regeneration processes, however, the data on its efficacy at DS site is contradictory. Despite ongoing search for new agents able to interfere in the physiological process of scarring, the number of relevant studies is yet insufficient. Thus, development of methods of scarring prevention after endonasal DCR takes the highest priority in dacryology.

Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy as treatment for lower lacrimal pathway obstructions in adults: Review article

Obstruction of the lacrimal pathway is manifested by epiphora, infection, and blurred vision as well as ocular and facial pain. Conservative treatments only achieve temporary relief of symptoms, thus surgery is the treatment of choice. Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is recognized as the most suitable treatment for patients with obstructions of the lacrimal system at the level of the sac or in the nasolacrimal duct. The aim of this operation is to create a bypass between the lacrimal sac and the nasal cavity. During the past 2 decades, advances in rigid endoscopic equipment and other instruments have made it possible to obtain more information about the anatomic landmarks of the nasolacrimal system, which led to the development of less-invasive and safer endoscopic techniques. However, many parts of the treatment process related to endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR) still remain controversial. This article reviews the published literature about the technical issues associated with the success of EN-DCR, and clarifies the pros and cons of different pre- and postoperative procedures in adults with lower lacrimal pathway obstructions.

Success rates in powered endonasal revision surgery for failed dacryocystorhinostomy in a tertiary referral center

PURPOSE

To evaluate the causes of failed dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery, recommend specific endoscopic endonasal techniques in revision DCR, and report postoperative success rates.

METHODS

Retrospective case series in a tertiary referral center of 19 consecutive, endonasal revision DCR surgeries in 17 adult patients with previous failed DCR. All cases were revised endonasally by 1 surgeon. Analysis of etiology of failure and techniques of surgery were supplemented by review of surgical video and medical records. Surgical outcomes were measured functionally by resolution of epiphora and anatomically by patency of nasolacrimal duct system on syringing and positive functional endoscopic dye test.

RESULTS

The most common cause for failed DCR was a blocked ostium due to membranous scarring (74%). Multiple causes for failure were found in 9 of 19 cases. Adjunctive procedures during revision surgery included partial middle turbinectomy (53%) and anterior ethmoidectomy (21%). The serrated oscillating blade was required in 89% cases, the high-speed diamond bur in 26%. Mean follow up was 15 months (range 7-26 months). All 19 cases had an anatomically successfully outcome. Fifteen of 19 cases (79%) had a functionally successful outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the most frequent cause of failed DCR was a scarred ostium, which is optimally visualized endonasally and precisely managed with the oscillating blade. Using the abovementioned specific endonasal techniques, the authors have demonstrated a high success rate in endonasal revision DCR surgery.

Meta-analysis of the adjunctive use of mitomycin C in primary and revision, external and endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy

PURPOSE

To determine whether application of the anti-proliferation agent, mitomycin C (MMC), to the osteotomy site during dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery increases surgical success rates.

METHOD

We conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of randomised controlled clinical studies relating to the adjunctive use of MMC in primary and revision, as well as external (EX-DCR) and endonasal DCR (EN-DCR).

RESULTS

15 studies met our inclusion criteria with a total of 850 DCR procedures. The mean concentration of MMC used was 0.3 mg/ml (range 0.02-0.75 mg/ml) and mean duration of application 18 min (range 2-30 min). MMC significantly reduced the failure rate of primary EX-DCR (risk ratio, RR, 0.51; 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.31-0.86) and revision EN-DCR (RR 0.43; 95% CI 0.21-0.89). The adjunctive use of MMC in primary EN-DCR, however, did not confer a significant reduction in failure rate compared with control (RR 0.94; 95% CI 0.44-2.04). We found a deficiency of evidence regarding the potential benefit of MMC in revision EX-DCR. Only two cases of adverse effects relating to the use of MMC were reported among the studies, both of which related to delayed wound healing.

CONCLUSIONS

Application of MMC to the osteotomy site is a safe and effective way of increasing surgical success rate in primary EX-DCR and revision EN-DCR, but does not provide any significant benefit in primary EN-DCR. Further studies are required to evaluate the potential effect of MMC in revision EX-DCR.

Efficacy of mitomycin C in endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

A number of published comparative studies have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intraoperative mitomycin C (MMC) in endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR). However, results have not always been consistent. Therefore, we carried out a meta-analysis to compare the clinical results of EN-DCR with and without MMC.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

A comprehensive literature search of Cochrane Library, PubMed and EMBASE to identify relevant trials comparing EN-DCR with and without MMC. Eleven studies including 574 eyes were included in this meta-analysis. The success was defined as patency of the nasolacrimal canal and symptomatic improvement. There was significantly higher success rate in the MMC group in comparison with control group [RR = 1.12, 95% CI (1.04, 1.20), P = 0.004]. A sensitivity analysis after the non-randomized controlled trials were excluded from the meta-analysis demonstrated no differences compared with the overall results. Subgroup analyses showed that MMC group had a significantly higher success rate than control group in primary and revision EN-DCR, and EN-DCR without silicone intubation, but no difference in the subgroup of with silicone intubation. The size of the osteotomy site was bigger in the MMC group compared to the control group at 3 months [WMD = 7.65, 95% CI (0.33, 14.98), P = 0.041] and 6 months [WMD = 9.28, 95% CI (2.45, 16.11), P = 0.008] after surgery. However, there was statistically significant difference in the osteotomy surface area between the two groups at 12 months after surgery [WMD = 11.63, 95% CI (-1.04, 24.29), P = 0.072].

CONCLUSION

Intraoperative MMC application seems to be a safe adjuvant that could reduce the closure rate of the osteotomy and enhance the success rate after both primary and revision EN-DCR.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01772277.