OBJECTIVETo sum up and analyze the long-term follow-up outcomes of intranasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (IEDCR) in patients with chronic dacryocystitis. The related factors to clinical effects were discussed.

METHODSThe operative and postoperative data were collected in 275 patients (310 eyes, mean age 28.3 years; range 3 to 76 years) who were undergone IEDCR with chronic dacryocystitis. All patients conceived the preoperative dacryocystography. Surgical intervention was performed under general or local anesthesia and all were done by the same surgeon. The silicon intubation was used according to the size of lacrimal sac. The postoperative follow-up management included endoscopic cleaning, lacrimal duct irrigation and nasal corticosteroid spray.

RESULTSThe patients with follow-up period less than 1 year were excluded from this group. 211 cases (230 eyes) were followed up over 1 year and the results showed that 75.3% were cured, 11.7% improved and 13.0% had no effects. The natural lacrimal apparatus was found reopened in 9 cases while their lacrimal rhinostomies were closed with scar. There was no operative complications.

CONCLUSIONSThe long-term outcomes of IEDCR are good. The wide bony rhinostomy, less mucosal damage and closed follow-up debrided should benefit for getting a high operative success rate. After surgical drainage, the inflammation mucosa of lacrimal sac might return to normal and the function of nasolacrimal apparatus might recover.