Silicone tubing is not necessary after primary endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy: a prospective randomized study.

Background: Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR) is an effective procedure when treating saccal and postsaccal obstructions of the nasolacrimal pathway. The benefit of silicone tubing after DCR is still controversial. We conducted a prospective, randomized study to evaluate the necessity of bicanalicular silicone tubes after primary EN-DCR.

Methods: Forty-six consecutive primary EN-DCR procedures were performed in 42 patients during 2004-2007. The patients were randomized into two study groups according to whether silicone tubing was used or not.

Results: The overall success rate after primary EN-DCR was 89%: with silicone tubes it was 78%, and without silicone tubes it was 100%. The difference between these two groups was statistically significant (p<0.049). The follow-up period was 6 months and included three follow-up visits: 1 week, 2 months, and 6 months postoperatively. If inserted, the silicone tubes were removed at the 2-month visit.

Conclusion: The results of our prospective, randomized study showed that the use of silicone tubes after primary EN-DCR is not necessary.