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Mohammad Ajalloueyan, MD; Mohammad Fartookzadeh, MD; Hamid Parhizgar, MD

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007;133(4):340-343.

Objective  To compare outcomes between conventional external dacrocystorhinostomy (ext DCR) and endonasal laser-assisted DCR (ELADCR).

Design  Prospective randomized trial.

Patients  The study included 210 consecutive patients (244 eyes) referred to hospital eye and ear, nose, and throat clinics.

Main Outcome Measures  Success rates and complications of ext DCR and ELADCR were compared after lacrimal ducts requiring DCR were randomly chosen and divided into 2 groups (ext DCR and ELADCR).

Results  The success rate was statistically equal in both groups (92.4% for ext DCR and 94.2% for ELADCR); however, morbidity (eg, intraoperative hemorrhage and wound scar) and operation time were less in the ELADCR group.

Conclusion  Preoperative patient consultation for selection of the surgical modality may help select the procedure of choice for each patient with regard to aesthetics, anesthesia, operation time, and costs.

Author Affiliations: Departments of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (Dr Ajalloueyan) and Ophthalmology (Drs Fartookzadeh and Parhizgar), Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University, Tehran, Iran.