Utku KUBİLAY, Süleyman Emre CILIZ, Mürşit Alperen YAKUT, Özlem Yagız AGAYAROV, İbrahim ÇUKUROVA
European Journal of Rhinology and Allergy - 2025;8(3):97-104
OBJECTIVE: Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) bypasses an obstructed tear duct, allowing tears to drain directly into the nasal cavity. Although both external and endonasal DCR approaches are practical, there is no universally accepted technique. This retrospective study evaluated the effectiveness of endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (EnDCR) performed with an otologic drill, assessed by the nasolacrimal lavage test and the Lac-Q questionnaire. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 20 eyes from 18 patients who underwent Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy (EnDCR) between April 2021 and December 2022. Pre- and post-surgery evaluations included endoscopic examinations, nasolacrimal lavage testing, and Lac-Q scoring at a follow-up of at least 6 months. RESULTS: The study included four males (22.2%) and 14 females (77.8%) with a median age of 63 years. Surgery was successful in 16 eyes (80.0%) and unsuccessful in 4 eyes (20.0%). Postoperative Lac-Q scores significantly improved in the successful group, while complications and revision surgeries were more common in the unsuccessful group. Symptom severity and social impact scores were strongly correlated in patients with unsuccessful outcomes. CONCLUSION: EnDCR using an otologic drill achieved a high success rate. The Lac-Q questionnaire provided valuable insights beyond the nasolacrimal lavage test, emphasizing the importance of including patient-reported outcomes in assessing surgical success.
