Interdisciplinary endoscopic outpatient management of connatal dacryocystoceles

Dacryocystocele may represent a rare type of connatal stenosis of the lacrimal duct. If conservative measures fail and in case of secondary inflammation, probing or regular surgery is usually recommended. We report on 15 neonates suffering from 18 connatal dacryocystoceles which were presented to the clinic of ophthalmology at the 16th (6 - 44) day of life. There was a definite female preponderance (65%). Conservative treatment (external massage, at times i.v. antibiotic therapy) had proven to be ineffective. The neonates were subjected to outpatient nasal endoscopy and the ballooning cyst of the inferior nasal meatus was managed by endoscopic marsupialization in 14 cases applying local anesthesia. Two nasal cysts had to be operated on in general anesthesia due to obstructing local anatomy which obviated endoscopical microsurgery. Three additional dacryocystoceles have been detected incidentally in 2 neonates being subjected to surgery in general anesthesia for choanal atresia and lacrimal probing respectively. The corresponding dacryocystoceles were managed by concomitant endonasal microsurgery. We advocate interdisciplinary (ophthalmological and rhinological) outpatient examination in all neonates with suspected dacryocystoceles. Diagnosis is based on palpation, probing and nasal endoscopy applying local anesthesia together with mucosal decongestion. Microsurgical marsupialization immediately follows and will lead to persisting relief of symptoms.