Acute Dacryocystitis with Empyema of the Lacrimal Sac: Is Immediate Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy Justified?

Objectives:To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (endoDCR) in the treatment of acute dacryocystitis with lacrimal sac empyema (ADLSE).Methods:Design: Single center cohort study. Setting: Academic tertiary center. Patients: Twenty-one consecutive patients who underwent endoDCR for ADLSE between August 2005 and December 2012 were included. Main outcome measures: The success of the procedure was defined as complete complaint relief and DCR patency. Time from referral to surgery, post-operative complications, and revision surgery data were also reported.Results:The present cohort of patients included 3 males (14.3%) and 18 females (85.7%) (median age: 66 years). Median time between referral and surgery was 0 days (mean: 0.86 days). Median follow-up was 12 months. All patients showed immediate relief from symptoms, with no recurrences of ADSLE. Complete success was achieved in 20 of 21 (95.2%) cases; the only failure was recorded in a patient who had previously undergone radio-iodine tre...