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PURPOSE To assess the efficacy of radiofrequency-assisted endofistulectomy in patients with lacrimal fistulae communicating with the lacrimal sac. METHODS Retrospective interventional case series of patients undergoing endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy with endofistulectomy from June 2016 to January 2020 were studied. The indications of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy were associated refractory complex congenital nasolacrimal duct obstructions and primary-acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. The communication of the fistulae with the lacrimal sac was ascertained. Specific surgical parameters and technique were used, and the variables assessed include patient demographics, clinical presentation, indications, surgical technique, recurrences, and outcomes. RESULTS Six eyes of 6 patients with mean age of 23.33 years underwent radiofrequency-assisted endofistulectomy. The surgical technique was found to be minimally invasive, easy to perform with multiple advantages like absence of a skin incision, targeting of the complete extent of the fistula, and complete closure of the external and internal openings of the fistulae. At 4 weeks, dacryocystorhinostomy ostium was well mucosalized and patent with a dynamic common canalicular opening. The fistula site had healed well with no epiphora or discharge or residual scarring. CONCLUSION Radiofrequency-assisted endofistulectomy is a minimally invasive and viable alternative to incisional fistulectomy in select group of patients of congenital or acquired fistulae which communicate with the lacrimal sac.

Lacrimal sac mucopeptide concretions are not uncommon and usually identified following the lacrimal sac marsupialization during a dacryocystorhinostomy. A 39-year-old female presented with epiphora and discharge of 8 months duration and was diagnosed as primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. During the endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy, a large intrasaccal polyp arising from the posterosuperior wall of the lacrimal sac with multiple inspissated mucopeptide concretions was noted. The lesion was excised, and the mucopeptide concretions were removed. Histopathology was suggestive of an intrasaccal polypoidal granuloma. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of an intrasaccal polyp-like lesion secondary to a granulomatous response to a lacrimal sac mucopeptide concretion. It is important to be aware of this entity. The retrieval of mucopeptide concretion or lacrimal sac dacryoliths should prompt the surgeon to initiate an intraoperative endoscopic assessment of the sac before proceeding with the surgery.

PURPOSE The objective of this study was to assess the quality of outcomes of powered endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy using the lacrimal symptom (Lac-Q) questionnaire. METHODS Prospective interventional case series of 50 consecutive patients who underwent primary powered endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy were included in the study. All the patients had stent placement which were removed at 4 weeks. The Lac-Q questionnaire was administered preoperatively and at 4 weeks and 16 weeks following the surgery. Outcomes assessed were anatomical success, functional success, and changes in the social impact and lacrimal symptoms scores. Statistical analysis was performed using Dunnette's procedure with bonferroni correction. RESULTS Fifty-five powered endoscopic dacryocysto rhinostomies were performed on 50 patients. A total of 150 questionnaire responses were analyzed. At the 16 week follow up, the anatomical and functional success rates were 98% and 94%, respectively. The mean social impact scores showed significant improvement postoperatively from 3.88 to 0.3 (p ≤ 0.001). The changes in the total scores (12.5 preoperatively to 1.0 at 16 weeks follow up) were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.001). Postoperative scoring correlated well with the anatomical and functional success rates. The symptom scores reflected changes with change in the clinical condition. CONCLUSION The Lac-Q questionnaire is a simple and useful tool to evaluate the quality of outcomes of powered endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.

PURPOSE To elucidate the mechanisms underlying nasolacrimal air regurgitation (AR) in the setting of continuous positive airway pressure therapy. METHODS Twelve nasolacrimal systems of 6 fresh female human cadavers were evaluated individually for AR using continuous positive airway pressure therapy before any nasolacrimal procedure. Cadavers were then randomly assigned to undergo nasolacrimal duct probing or endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy and then each hemisystem was again evaluated for AR. The pressure where AR was first observed (discovery pressure) or maximum possible pressure in systems without AR was recorded. In systems that demonstrated AR, the pressure was then gradually decreased to the lowest pressure where regurgitation persisted. This pressure was recorded as the secondary threshold pressure. RESULTS None of the 12 unoperated nasolacrimal systems or the 6 systems that underwent nasolacrimal duct probing demonstrated AR through the maximum continuous positive airway pressure therapy (30 cm H2O). After endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy, all 6 nasolacrimal systems demonstrated AR. The mean discovery pressure was 16.0 cm H2O (range, 14.0-18.0 cm H2O) and mean secondary threshold pressure was 7.25 cm H2O (range, 6.5-8.0 cm H2O). CONCLUSIONS Air regurgitation during continuous positive airway pressure therapy in the setting of prior endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy can be replicated in a cadaver model. The secondary threshold pressures required for AR in this model were similar to AR pressures reported clinically. Prior to dacryocystorhinostomy, patients using continuous positive airway pressure therapy should be counseled on AR, and physicians should consider this phenomenon when evaluating ophthalmic complaints in postoperative patients on positive airway pressure therapy.

AIM The aim of this study was to examine the presence of biofilms and physical deposits within the lumen of silastic nasolacrimal duct stents inserted during dacryocystorhinostomy. METHODS A prospective interventional study was performed on consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy with Crawford stent insertion. All the patient samples were retrieved 4 weeks after the surgery. None of the patients had any clinical evidence of postoperative infection. The intraluminal portions studied include the distal cut ends and the entire intraluminal surface. The analysis was performed using the standard protocols of scanning electron microscopy. The luminal surfaces were compared against sterile stents that acted as controls. RESULTS A total of 7 stents were studied. Five were consecutive patient samples and 2 were sterile stents. The cut ends and intraluminal surfaces of all the patient stents demonstrated evidence of biofilm formation and physical deposits. The luminal cut ends demonstrated extensive deposits and thick mixed biofilms constituted by fungal filaments and bacteria. The entire stretch of intraluminal surfaces showed thin, fine layers of deposits and bacterial biofilms with skip areas. CONCLUSIONS Intraluminal surfaces of lacrimal stents harbor physical deposits and mixed biofilms. Because the purpose and functions of stents are not influenced by the presence or absence of its lumen, the use of nonluminal stents may prevent additional surfaces from acting as nidus for microbes.

Lacrimal sac septum is a rare structural abnormality of the lacrimal system. A 15-year-old patient presented with epiphora and a mass inferior to the left medial canthal tendon. Dacryocystography and CT-dacryocystography revealed a dilated lacrimal sac with complete obstruction. A horizontal lacrimal sac septum was found in the mid-sac region during endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy. Histopathologic examination of the septum revealed chronic inflammation with stratified columnar epithelial cell lining consistent with the lacrimal sac.

Purpose To evaluate the outcomes of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (eDCR) with and without the use of ultrasonic bone aspirator (UBA; Sonopet). Methods A retrospective, institutional review board approved chart review of all eDCRs over 49 months. Data included demographics, indication/etiologic factors of nasolacrimal duct obstruction, comorbidities, intraoperative findings, epiphora symptoms pre- and postoperatively, and complications. Patients were grouped in eDCR with or without UBA. Results One hundred and twenty-three primary eDCRs in 99 patients were included, 59 with UBA and 64 without UBA. Most patients were Caucasians (80.8%) and women (72.0%), with a mean age of 55.9 years (range, 9-89). There were no significant differences in the demographics of the 2 subgroups. Complete resolution of symptoms was obtained in 81.3% of procedures without UBA and in 79.7% with UBA. Most patients (72.7%) were deemed idiopathic preoperatively. Lacrimal sac biopsy demonstrated significant pathologic factors in 9 (7.3%) cases, with 7 (5.7%) of these resulting in a new diagnosis for the patient. There were no cases of cerebrospinal fluid leakage, visual loss, diplopia, infection, or uncontrolled epistaxis in either group. Conclusions Early results of eDCR with UBA appear to show reasonable efficacy. The overall success and failure rates of eDCR with and without UBA are similar. Neither group had any complications in this study, although any conclusion on the overall safety of the procedure is limited by the power of this study.

PURPOSE To report the novel use of the osteotome as an adjunctive instrument in Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective interventional case series of 15 patients, underwent endoscopic DCR at the Singapore National Eye Centre, by a single ophthalmologist and rhinologist between April 2009 and April 2011.All patients' case records were reviewed and the information recorded included: patients' demographics, level of obstruction of the lacrimal system, operative time, postoperative symptoms and complications (if any), and the length of follow-up. All patients had preoperative syringing to determine the level of obstruction, and had postoperative syringing only if there were any complaints of epiphora.All surgeries were recorded on video. The osteotome and mallet were used in all patients to augment the bone removal, and Crawford stent (MIRA®) intubation was done in all patients and left in situ for 2 months. RESULTS A total of 15 patients were reviewed and analyzed from April 2009 to August 2010. Ages ranged from 22 to 77 years of age underwent endoscopic DCR with Crawford stent (MIRA ®) intubation. All patients had syringing before surgery and all had only nasolacrimal duct obstruction except 1 patient who had common canalicular obstruction. The surgery was carried out as described above with no intraoperative or postoperative complications in any of the patients. Duration of surgery ranged from 22 to 65 minutes with a mean time of 42.6 minutes. All patients were followed up from 2 to 11 months with resolution of epiphora in all cases. CONCLUSION The use of the osteotome and mallet, in combination with the Kerrison rongeur and diamond drill, has been found to be useful in creating a large osteotomy in endoscopic DCR. It has allowed greater ease and speed in performing this procedure, especially for patients with thicker bone and narrower nasal cavities.

PURPOSE To evaluate the use of a chitosan-based hemostatic dressing (CBHD) (ChitoFlex, HemCon Medical Technologies Inc., Portland, OR, U.S.A.) as an effective adjunct for hemostasis in dacryocystorhinostomy surgery and compare its effectiveness to collagen absorbable hemostat (CAH) (Insat, Johnson & Johnson Gateway, New Brunswick, NJ, U.S.A.). METHODS Retrospective, comparative case series. Thirty-five external or endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) and conjuctival dacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR) procedures were performed on 26 patients using the CBHD from May through October 2007. Thirty-five external or endoscopic DCR or CDCR procedures were performed on 27 patients using CAH from February through May 2007. Collection of patient data in the group treated with CBHD included the types of cases performed, surgical outcome, complications, adverse reactions, and telephone follow-up survey of symptomatic results. Collection of patient data in the group treated with CAH primarily focused on the types of cases performed and postoperative bleeding. The main outcome measures were postoperative bleeding and need for anterior nasal packing. RESULTS Postoperative bleeding occurred in 2 cases in the group treated with CBHD and in 12 cases in the CAH group. CONCLUSIONS The study demonstrates the effectiveness and safety of CBHD as a hemostatic agent in DCR and CDCR and as a promising alternative to CAH.

PURPOSE To assess postoperative sequelae of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (endoDCR), including rates of air reflux and other otolaryngologic sequelae. METHODS Patients who underwent endoDCR over a 5-year period were included in a follow-up questionnaire regarding side effects after surgery. The questionnaire included questions regarding tearing, air reflux, and nasal symptoms. RESULTS Results were obtained on 82 patients (101 endoDCRs). Most patients were women (70.7%) and white (85.4%). The mean postoperative period was 39.7 months (range 8-66 months). The most common sequela was air reflux from the puncta (46 cases, 45.5%). Of the 82 patients, 58.7% experienced symptoms only "rarely," while 18.5% had symptoms daily. Air reflux was most commonly associated with nose blowing (73.9%). Success of endoDCR correlated with presence of air reflux (p = 0.0044). All patients with air reflux preferred having air reflux to epiphora. Epistaxis was present in 8 cases (7.9%) and nasal congestion in 21.8% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS Treatment for epiphora with endoDCR results in air reflux in almost half of patients, which is minimally bothersome to patients. The presence of air reflux highly correlates with resolution of epiphora and has a similar incidence in external and endoDCRs.

A 26-year-old male presented with left epiphora from a congenital lacrimal fistula. A dacryocystogram confirmed fistulous origin from the lacrimal sac, while syringing demonstrated coexisting partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy was performed with marsupialization of the lacrimal sac medial wall, facilitating direct visualization of the internal fistula origin on the lateral wall, and excision with a 3-mm punch biopsy trephine over a cannula guide. Postoperatively, his symptoms resolved with a minimal cutaneous scar. The authors present this modified surgical technique for fistula excision using an endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy approach.