Comparison of outcomes between endoscopic and external dacryocystorhinostomy with a Griffiths nasal catheter

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to give clinicians definitive and accurate information on the success of the Griffiths nasal catheter (Beaver Visitec International, Inc., Waltham, MA) in dacryocystorhinostomy as an alternative to silicone tubing.

Design: A prospective clinical study.

Setting: A community teaching hospital.

Methods: Seventy-seven patients underwent endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (ENDCR) and 58 underwent external dacryocystorhinostomy (EXDCR) in a standardized fashion by the same surgical team between 2007 and 2009. A Griffiths nasal catheter (8 mm) made of silicone was placed into the lacrimal sac in all cases.

Results: In primary ENDCR group, the overall success rate was 87.1% (61 cases) and the failure rate was 12.9% (9 cases), whereas in the EXDCR group, the success rate was 86.8% (46 cases) and the failure rate was 13.2% (7 cases). Of the 16 failed cases, anatomic fistula obstruction by granulation formation was found in 3 cases from the ENDCR group and 3 from the EXDCR group, all within 1 to 3 months, while the catheter was intact.

Conclusions: The Griffiths nasal catheter technique is cheaper, easy to perform, and made of a suitable silicone material and can be used easily and safely in both ENDCR and EXDCR.