ZELİHA KARADEMİR, FATMA ESİN ÖZDEMİR, IBRAHİM KOÇAK
Comprehensive Medicine - 2024;16(2):65-68
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare the success rates of anterior and anterior-posterior flap anastomosis techniques in external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) operations. METHODS: In our clinic, 82 eyes of 82 patients who underwent external DCR due to epiphora and chronic dacryocystitis were analyzed retrospectively. All of these patients’ lacrimal canals were intubated with silicone tube. External DCR surgery was performed with single flap anastomosis in 42 eyes of 42 patients and double flap anastomosis in 40 eyes of 40 patients and control examinations were performed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Surgical success was defined by open punctum lavage and by absence of epiphora after follow-up of 12 months. Results: A total of 82 cases, 62 females and 20 males, were included in the study. Anterior flap surgery was performed in 42 cases and anterior-posterior flap surgery was performed in 40 cases. Of the 40 patients who underwent anterior-posterior flap surgery, 11 were male and 29 were female, and the mean age was 46.53±15.15 years. Of the 42 patients who underwent anterior flap surgery, 9 were male, 33 were female, and the mean age was 48.19±14.15 years. While the mean follow-up period of the anterior-posterior flap group was 15.7±3.4 months, the follow-up period of the anterior flap group was 16.5±4.2 months. The success rate was 92.5 % in the anterior-posterior flap group and 90.5 % in the anterior flap group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of surgical success (p>0.05). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The success rates of the DCR techniques with anterior and anterior-posterior flap anastomosis were similar. Since there is no significant difference in terms of surgical success, the anterior flap anastomosis may be preferred because of the easy technique.
