The efficacy of two operative procedures in treatment of patients with chronic dacryocystitis

Objective To evaluate the curative effect of external dacryocystorhinostomy(EDCR) and intranasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (IEDCR) for chronic dacryocystitis.Methods We retrospectively analyzed 82 patients with chronic dacryocystisis at our hospital,from January of 2007 to January of 2009.All patients were followed up for 3～12 months.Results 36 of the 82 patients received IEDCR and the other 46 patients received EDCR.In IEDCR group,23 cases were cured,7 cases were improved and 6 cases had no improvement,the effective rate was 83%(30/36).In EDCR group,27 cases were cured,12 cases were improved and in 7 cases no improvement was observed,the effective rate was 85%(39/46).NO significant difference was found between the two groups(P0.05).Conclusion There was no significant difference in the curative effect between EDCR and IEDCR.But the IEDCR is a valuable treatment as it is a minimally invasive surgery and no cosmetic defect.