Endoscopic study of the intranasal ostium in external dacryocystorhinostomy postoperative. Influence of saline solution and 5-fluorouracil

Abstract

PURPOSE: To study, through endoscopy, the postoperative structural changes of the intranasal ostium following external dacryocystorhinostomy and to evaluate the influence of saline solution and 5-fluorouracil. METHODS: Fifty patients were distributed into the following groups: Group SS - dacryocystorhinostomy and an injection of saline solution during surgery (13 patients); Group 5-FU1 - dacryocystorhinostomy and an injection of 5 fluorouracil during surgery (17 patients); Group C - dacryocystorhinostomy only (11 patients); Group 5-FU3 - dacryocystorhinostomy and 3 injections, 1 during surgery and 1 on the third and fifth postsurgical days (9 patients). RESULTS: Pair-wise group comparisons using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test revealed that there was a significant reduction of the ostium area only in Group 5-FU1 vs. Group SS on the 60th postoperative day (P < .05; Mann-Whitney test); no significant changes were found for the other groups. DISCUSSION: These results suggest that the use of 5-fluorouracil in external dacryocystorhinostomy does not significantly influence the final size of the surgical fistula as determined 2 months postsurgery.