Functional success evaluation of lacrimal drainage system by dacryoscintigraphy after transcanalicular diode laser dacryocystorhinostomy

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the functional success rates using dacryoscintigraphy (DSG) after transcanalicular diode laser dacryocystorhinostomy (TDL-DCR). METHODS: In this retrospective study, we investigated the records of 56 patients who underwent TDL-DCR for unilateral primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction and anatomic patency was achieved. The lacrimal drainage systems of the other eyes of the patients were normal and were selected as control group. The functional success was evaluated with tear transit time (TT) on DSG and epiphora complaints’ score (ECS) at postoperative 6 months. RESULTS: Twenty-two (39%) of the patients were male and 34 (61%) were female, with a mean age of 46.6 (21–64). The dacryoscintigraphic findings of the operated and healthy eyes showed that there was statistically insignificant prolongation in the tear TT at the operated side at postoperative 6(th) month (P > 0.05). The mean ECS of operated eyes was 0.89. Functional success was achieved in 43 (76.8%) patients when the ECS of 0 and 1 was accepted as successful. A statistically significant delay in drainage was observed in DSG in all of the cases with epiphora score of 2 and 3 (P < 0.05). The tear TT was prolonged with the age increase (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference concerning the gender. CONCLUSION: DSG is an effective tool to evaluate the functional success of TDL-DCR.