Factors influencing endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy outcome

Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is a widely accepted treatment option for epiphora and dacryocystitis. To elucidate the cause of treatment failure after surgery, we analyzed patients' characteristics and perioperative background in association with poor outcome. We analyzed 165 patients with 213 sides who had endoscopic DCR. The influence of age, duration of symptoms, occlusion site and stent insertion were analyzed. Symptoms were completely cured in 85.0% (181/213) sides. Higher age (>= 65 years) and proximal obstruction were associated with a poor prognosis while stent insertion and duration of symptoms were not. Higher age and proximal obstruction site were associated with a poor prognosis. Patients with a long history can be treated as per normal. The stent is not necessarily inserted in cases where the obstruction occurs distal to the lacrimal sac.