Comparative study of dacryocystorhinostomy with and without intraoperative application of Mitomycin C

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To compare the outcome of dacryocystorhinostomy surgery with and without the intraoperative use of Mitomycin C. METHODS: Our study is a prospective comparative case study in which 50 patients of primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction were divided on the basis of random sampling into the conventional dacryocystorhinostomy group and the Mitomycin C group in which Mitomycin C 0.2 mg/ml was used intraoperatively. Patients were followed on 1st postoperative day, 1st, 3rd, 6th weeks, 3rd and 6th months. Patient symptoms and satisfaction were noted. Patency of lacrimal passage was assessed by lacrimal syringing and tear meniscus height was recorded on each follow-up. RESULTS: At the end of 6 months of follow-up, 96% of patients were asymptomatic in the Mitomycin C group whereas 80% patients in the conventional group were asymptomatic. On lacrimal syringing 24 (96%) eyes had patent passage in the Mitomycin C group where as only 1 (4%) patient had complete block with regurgitation of mucopurulent fluid. In the conventional group 20 (80%) eyes had patent passage, 4 (16%) eyes had complete block with regurgitation of mucopurulent fluid and 1 (4%) eye had partially patent passage on lacrimal syringing. Out of 25 eyes, 24 had normal tear meniscus height, and 1 had high tear meniscus height in the Mitomycin C group in comparison to the conventional group in which out of 25 eyes 20 eyes had normal, 1 had moderate and 4 eyes had high tear meniscus height. Intraoperative and postoperative complications in both the groups were identical. CONCLUSION: Although the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant, a distinctly higher success was achieved in patients undergoing dacryocystorhinostomy with intra operative Mitomycin C as compared to conventional dacryocystorhinostomy.