Quantitative study of the effect of dacryocystorhinostomy on lacrimal drainage

Incompatibility of Lacrimal Syringing Test with Dacryoscintigraphy in Patients Undergoing Successful Dacryocystorhinostomy Surgery

Purpose  The aim of our study was to evaluate the compatibility of lacrimal syringe test with dacryoscintigraphy (DSG) in the postoperative evaluation of external dacryocystorhinostomy (Ext-DCR) surgery. Material and Methods  Thirty eyes of 30 patients suffering from unilateral epiphora with discharge and showing complete obstruction on lacrimal irrigation test were included in the study. Patients with dysfunctional lacrimal pump function, revision surgery, partial obstruction, and ocular surface diseases were not included in the study. Verification of the nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) was achieved with dye disappearance test, Jones test 1 (JT 1), and JT 2. According to the type of obstruction seen on DSG, patients were classified into two groups: presac and postsac obstruction. Patients with complete obstruction detected in the lacrimal syringing and dynamic scintigraphy underwent Ext-DCR, and the results were evaluated. Results  Thirty patients, mean age 58.93 ± 12.11 years, all with unilateral NLDO were included in the study. All had grade 5 Munk score epiphora and discharge. The mean duration of obstruction was 24.57 ± 10.65 months. In the lacrimal irrigation test, all patients had complete obstruction in one eye, while the other eye was normal. According to preoperative DSG results, there were 20 (66.7%) patients with presac delay and 10 (33.3%) patients with postsac delay. All patients underwent Ext-DCR with silicone tube intubation and were followed for 1 year. Although there was symptomatic improvement in all patients and the lacrimal syringing test was patent, no change was seen in scintigraphy. Conclusion  Although DSG is a sensitive nuclear medicine method, it is not useful for predicting the functional success of the Ext-DSR.

Functional success evaluation of lacrimal drainage system by dacryoscintigraphy after transcanalicular diode laser dacryocystorhinostomy

Purpose:

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the functional success rates using dacryoscintigraphy (DSG) after transcanalicular diode laser dacryocystorhinostomy (TDL-DCR).

Methods:

In this retrospective study, we investigated the records of 56 patients who underwent TDL-DCR for unilateral primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction and anatomic patency was achieved. The lacrimal drainage systems of the other eyes of the patients were normal and were selected as control group. The functional success was evaluated with tear transit time (TT) on DSG and epiphora complaints’ score (ECS) at postoperative 6 months.

Results:

Twenty-two (39%) of the patients were male and 34 (61%) were female, with a mean age of 46.6 (21–64). The dacryoscintigraphic findings of the operated and healthy eyes showed that there was statistically insignificant prolongation in the tear TT at the operated side at postoperative 6^th month (P > 0.05). The mean ECS of operated eyes was 0.89. Functional success was achieved in 43 (76.8%) patients when the ECS of 0 and 1 was accepted as successful. A statistically significant delay in drainage was observed in DSG in all of the cases with epiphora score of 2 and 3 (P < 0.05). The tear TT was prolonged with the age increase (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference concerning the gender.

Conclusion:

DSG is an effective tool to evaluate the functional success of TDL-DCR.

Prevention of re-obstruction in watery eye treatment: three-flap technique in external dacryocystorhinostomy

PURPOSE

To examine the surgical outcome of three-flap external dacryocystorhinostomy (3-flap ex-DCR) based on the most common site of granulation occurrence in no-flap endonasal DCR (no-flap en-DCR).

METHODS

This was a retrospective observational study. We first examined the location of granulation occurrence in the osteotomy site using nasal endoscopy after no-flap en-DCR on 53 sides of 37 patients (5 male, 32 female) with nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Based on the results of this surgery, we performed 3-flap ex-DCR on 70 sides of 61 patients (18 male, 43 female) with nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Anatomical success was defined as no reflux under lacrimal irrigation and a patent osteotomy site under nasal endoscopic examination at postoperative 12 months. Functional success was defined as no symptoms of watery eyes over the same period.

RESULTS

In the no-flap en-DCR patients, the granulation was formed in 42 sides (79.2 %): 18 sides (34.0 %) on the superior portion, 9 sides (17.0 %) on the inferior portion, 35 sides (66.0 %) on the anterior portion, and only 1 side (1.9 %) on the posterior portion, which was very small. Based on these results, we performed the 3-flap ex-DCR with the anterior, superior, and inferior flaps. Anatomical success with this technique was achieved in all sides (100 %), and functional success was obtained in 66 of 70 sides (94.3 %).

CONCLUSIONS

The 3-flap ex-DCR did not cause recurrent nasolacrimal duct obstruction, rendering it a very useful technique in terms of quality of life and medical economics.

Spontaneous eyeblink activity

Spontaneous blinking is essential for maintaining a healthy ocular surface and clarity of vision. The spontaneous blink rate (SBR) is believed to reflect a complex interaction between peripheral influences mediated by the eye surface and the central dopaminergic activity. The SBR is thus extremely variable and dependent on a variety of psychological and medical conditions. Many different methods have been employed to measure the SBR and the upper eyelid kinematics during a blink movement. Each has its own merits and drawbacks, and the choice of a specific method should be tailored to the specific needs of the investigation. Although the sequence of muscle events that leads to a blink has been fully described, knowledge about the neural control of spontaneous blinking activity is not complete. The tear film is dynamically modified between blinks, and abnormalities of the blink rate have an obvious influence on the ocular surface.

Scintigraphic evaluation for tear drainage, after dacryocystorhino- stomy, in relation to patient satisfaction

AIM

To measure the degree of physiological patency of the tear drainage system using dacryoscintigraphy before and after external dacryocystorhinostomy (EDCR) in relation to patient complaints.

METHODS

Prospective evaluation of 29 eyes of 24 patients with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) who underwent EDCR. The epiphora complaints were measured subjectively. Dacryoscintigraphy was performed in all eyes preoperatively, and was repeated 6 months after DCR together with the complaints score. For evaluation of dacryoscintigraphy, we determined T1 (percentage of administered dose still present after 1 min) and linear clearance rate (LCR), defined as: 100%(T1-T15)/T1) from the tracer disappearance curve. Dacryoscintigraphy findings were compared with the results of 20 eyes of normal volunteers without any symptoms. Scintigraphic findings were compared before and after the operation, with the change in patient complaints score as well as with normal values.

RESULTS

Significant improvement occurred after the operation in the complaints score, T1 and LCR. However, despite absence of complaints (score=0) postoperative scintigraphic values were still abnormal as compared to normal individuals.

CONCLUSION

Despite almost complete remission of epiphora complaints, DCR does not result in normalization of the tear drainage system.

Fluorescein transit test time and symptomatic outcomes after external dacryocystorhinostomy

PURPOSE

To determine the relation between the fluorescein transit test time and postoperative relief of epiphora in patent dacryocystorhinostomies.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 40 patients who underwent 42 external dacryocystorhinostomies between January 1994 and January 2000 was performed. Postoperative symptomatic success was assessed by a questionnaire. Intranasal rigid endoscopy was performed to measure the fluorescein transit test time, defined as the time from instillation of fluorescein to its free flow from the osteotomy site. The main outcome measures were symptomatic success, fluorescein transit test time, and anatomic patency to irrigation. Statistical analysis was performed with the use of the Fisher exact test.

RESULTS

Of the 42 dacryocystorhinostomies studied, 92.8% were patent to irrigation. There was a statistically significant association between a fluorescein transit test time of < or = 45 seconds and subjective success (P<0.001), with 96% of patients reporting a successful postoperative outcome. A slow fluorescein transit test, with an average time of 138.9 seconds, was associated with symptomatic failure (P<0.001), with 56.2% of this group reporting significant postoperative epiphora.

CONCLUSIONS

The fluorescein transit test provides a quantitative measure of lacrimal drainage function after dacryocystorhinostomy, with a fluorescein transit test time of < or = 45 seconds being the relevant parameter to characterize symptomatic success. Postoperative failure in external dacryocystorhinostomy, as evidenced by slow transit times, may result from surgical interference with the lacrimal pump.