Lacrimal sac empyema incision and drainage followed by early external dacryocystorhinostomy

Surgical Outcome of External Dacryocystorhinostomy With Silicone Intubation for Recurrent Lacrimal Abscess in Children Younger Than 6 Years

PURPOSE

To assess the success rate of external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) with silicone intubation for recurrent lacrimal abscess in children younger than 6 years.

METHODS

A single-center retrospective analysis of 46 eyes of 40 children who underwent DCR with silicone tube intubation for recurrent lacrimal abscess was done. Probing done previously in these cases was unsuccessful. Only those children who underwent incision and drainage of the abscess at least once with antibiotic treatment were included in the study. In all cases, silicone tube removal was done after 3 months. A successful outcome was defined as the absence of subjective complaints of pain and swelling over the medial canthal area and watering and discharge at 6 months postoperatively. Objective assessment of patency of the lacrimal apparatus was done by sac syringing at 6 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

The mean age at surgery was 4.93 ± 0.93 years (range: 3 to 6 years) and the mean follow-up duration was 11.80 ± 11.87 months (range: 6 to 84 months). Intra-operative difficulties encountered were excessive perisac adhesion (n = 28) and severe bleeding/hemorrhage (n = 24). A total of 82.61% cases had a successful outcome after DCR with silicon tube intubation. One child had granuloma formation at the wound. Spontaneous tube extrusion occurred in three children.

CONCLUSIONS

DCR with silicone tube intubation is a safe and effective surgical approach with satisfactory outcomes for treating recurrent lacrimal abscess with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children younger than 6 years. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2019;56(3):188-193.].

[Minimally invasive bypass surgery for nasolacrimal duct obstruction : Transcanalicular laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy]

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the minimally invasive surgical procedure of transcanalicular laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy (TKL-DCR) has gained importance in the treatment of primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstructions (PANDO).

OBJECTIVES

Surgical indications, functional success rates, potential advantages, and complications of TKL-DCR are presented and compared with the standard procedures external (EXT-DCR) and endonasal DCR (EN-DCR).

METHODS

The study comprises a PubMed literature review and our own clinical results.

RESULTS

Using TKL-DCR either as the primary surgical treatment for PANDO, or as a secondary procedure following failure (reobstruction of the surgical ostium) of previous EXT-DCR resulted in good functional success rates (60-90%). The duration of surgery (10-15 min) and the period of recovery are significantly shorter than in EXT-DCR. Visible cutaneous scars and significant postoperative nose bleeding are not among the complications of TKL-DCR, due to the lack of a skin incision and the coagulative ability of the diode laser. The smaller sized surgical ostium has been considered the main disadvantage of TKL-DCR, since it might be prone to earlier reobstruction. On the other hand, TKL-DCR spares the anatomical structures that form the physiological tear pump, which should favor tear drainage. In very few cases, thermal damage to the canaliculus has been observed as a complication.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the satisfying functional results, TKL-DCR is a valid alternative to the "gold standard" procedure EXT-DCR, especially in patients who particularly request speedy recovery and who do not want to take the risk of visible skin scaring. Future studies will have to investigate whether the smaller surgical ostia of TKL-DCR remain patent and whether functional success rates decrease during a longer follow-up period of >2 years.

Treatment of Acute Purulent Dacryocystitis by Early Bicanalicular Silicone Intubation: Safety, Efficacy, and Outcomes

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and outcomes of early bicanalicular silicone intubation in the treatment of acute purulent dacryocystitis.

METHODS

This prospective interventional case series focused on acute purulent dacryocystitis from February 2010 to March 2014. Of the 21 cases, 16 cases were treated at the Fujian Provincial Hospital, and five cases were treated at the Lianjiang Hospital. Bicanalicular silicone intubation was inserted in the original lacrimal duct within 10 days after abscess decompression by pus aspiration method and systemic antibiotic application. Data collection included demographic profiles, perioperative and postoperative complications, and revision surgery. Resolution of signs and symptoms of acute purulent dacryocystitis, as well as successful anatomical patency assessed by irrigation, was evaluated. Follow-up times were more than 12 months, and ranged from 14 to 63 months.

RESULTS

All patients showed remarkable improvement of pain and swelling within 48 hours. Resolution of the erythema and edema was observed within one week after bicanalicular silicone intubation combined with topical antibiotic lavage. No intraoperative and postoperative complications were observed. After initial bicanalicular silicone intubation, anatomical success was observed in 66.7% (14/21) of the patients. Of the remaining seven patients who presented with severe reflux in irrigation, two patients chose re-intubation and five patients underwent standard external dacryocystorhinostomy. All patients had anatomical success at last follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Early bicanalicular silicone intubation appears to be a safe, effective, and simple procedure, which offers a reasonable option in the treatment of acute purulent dacryocystitis, especially for those developing and underdeveloped areas.

Microbiologic spectrum of acute and chronic dacryocystitis

AIM

To report the microbiological spectrum of acute and chronic dacrocystitis.

METHODS

Retrospective study on 100 patients who presented to the ophthalmic plastic clinic of a tertiary eye care center from May 2011 and April 2013 with acute and chronic dacryocystitis was reviewed for demographic and microbiological profile. The culture results and organisms isolated were recorded.

RESULTS

Sixty patients had acute onset and the remaining 40 patients had chronic onset dacryocystitis. The female to male ratio was 1.78. The mean age of patients was 44y. Gram-positive organisms were the most commonly isolated accounting for 54%, and the commonest species isolated was S. aureus in 26%. Percentage of gram positive cultures was higher in chronic dacryocystitis than acute ones (82% vs 48% of positive cultures; P=0.003). Also in culture positive acute dacryocystitis, gram negative species were found in 52% of eyes but only in 18% of chronic dacryocystitis.

CONCLUSION

Gram negative bacteria, culture negative samples, unusual and more virulent organisms are more common in acute dacryocystitis than chronic ones. The results of this study have significant bearing on the treatment of patients with dacrocystitis.