Endoscopic balloon-assisted lacrimal surgery

The goal of dacryocystorhinostomy is to create a fistula between the nasolacrimal sac and the nasal passageway to bypass nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Traditional external approaches have a very high success rate, but the disadvantages are numerous. Patients may have excess blood loss and facial ecchymosis as the result of injury to the angular artery, unsightly and uncomfortable scarring, as well as potential for diplopia as the result of injury of the inferior oblique muscle, which originates near the lacrimal crest. Endoscopic balloon-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy offers decreased postoperative sequelae, with less surgical time and decreased patient recovery time. The use of balloon-catheter dilation simplifies nasal manipulation and obviates the use of power instrumentation in most cases.