Objectives: To conduct the first prospective randomized controlled trial assessing and comparing the safety and efficacy of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) with double posteriorly based nasal and lacrimal flaps to conventional endoscopic DCR in adult patients with acquired complete nasolacrimal obstruction.
Study design: A prospective randomized controlled study.
Setting: General hospital.
Subjects and methods: Seventy-four adult patients with a total of 80 procedures were recruited to undergo endoscopic DCR. They were prospectively equally randomized into 2 groups: endoscopic DCR with flaps (group I) and conventional endoscopic DCR (group II). Regular follow-up settings were done to document the patient's subjective improvement, judge ostium patency on irrigation, and record any complications.
Results: Endoscopic DCR with flaps had a higher (92.1%) but nonsignificant difference in success rate when compared with conventional endoscopic DCR (87.4%). There was no significant difference between the 2 techniques in operative time, adverse events, and tolerability of the technique to be done under local anesthesia with minimal sedation. Group I demonstrated a significantly lower number of debridement sessions than did group II.
Conclusion: Endoscopic DCR with double posteriorly based nasal and lacrimal flaps provides a viable alternative to conventional endoscopic DCR in managing acquired nasolacrimal duct obstructions in adults. It has a comparable success rate, operative time, and safety profile, with a suggestion of a better healing profile in terms of mucosal recovery, wound healing, and less need for debridement sessions.