EFFICACY OF DIODE LASER TRANSCANALICULAR DACRYOCYSTORHINOSTOMY FOR THE TREATMENT OF ACQUIRED NASOLACRIMAL DUCT OBSTRUCTION

This study designed to determine the surgical outcome of transcanalicular dacryocystorhinostomy for the treatment of blocked lacrimal pathway. This is a prospective study of 36 patients admitted in Basrah General Hospital from March 2008 to May 2010. The age of the patients was in range from 6 to 60yrs. Forty five (31.25%) were males and 99(68.75%) were females. All of these cases were unilateral. Thirty three (93.05%) of the total patients were operated general local anesthesia and the rest 3 (6.94%) were under local anesthesia. The overall success rate was 62.5% in non-intubated patients and 93.75% with intubation. It is concluded that Diode Laser Transcanalicular dacryocystorhinostomy is still a new surgical procedure for the treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction and need further refinement of the surgical procedure and studies for evaluation of effectiveness and success.