External Dacryocystorhinostomy: 4 Years’ Experience from CHU-IOTA in Mali

Aim: To analyze the clinical characteristics and the surgical outcomes of external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) in patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical record of 62 patients who underwent external DCR for NLDO between November 2015 and November 2019 at CHU-IOTA in Mali. The preoperative clinical findings and the postoperative outcomes after a minimum follow up of 3 months were analyzed. Results: epiphora, discharges and canthal swelling were main symptoms of the 62 patients (68% women, 32% men), with the mean age of 47 years (10 - 76). Among them, 36 had chronic dacryocystitis, 12 had a traumatic NLDO and 8 followed a septal deviation. The majority (77%) were operated on under local anesthesia with sedation. Bicanalicular intubation was performed in 29% of patients. After postoperative follow up of at least 3 months, only 8 patients had persistent watering, thus a subjective functional success of 87%. Conclusion: In the nasolacrimal duct obstruction, most often secondary to chronic dacryocystitis, external dacryocystorhinostomy remains a technique of choice with very good success.