New Anesthetic Technique for Dacryocystorhinostomy: 218 Cases with Local-Anesthesia Ultrasonographic Guided and Blunt Cannula

Introduction: Epiphora is a common ophthalmologic complaint and referrals to oculoplastics and, in the presence of lower complete lacrimonasal duct obstruction, may lead to mild to severe complications, thus requiring surgery to create a new drainage path. The external dacryocystorhinostomy with silicon intubation is the surgical technique with better long-term outcomes and performed in the institutions where this study was conducted. Can be performed under either general or loco-regional anesthesia, or a combination of both. Methods: This article presents a revision of 218 consecutive cases from December 2016 to June 2021 in two specialized centers with the same standardized surgical and anesthetic technique. Results: 242 surgical prontuaries were selected, with 218 filling the inclusion criteria. 13% of the patients required additional anesthetic infusion before the beginning of the surgery; 2.7% of the patients required field anesthetic infusion during the surgery and 6.4% required supplementary sedation, thus meaning a positive outcome, as the number of patients with intraoperative complaints was low, and the overall comfort was high. During the follow up, no patient required pain medication after 24 hours. Discussion: This study points towards the feasibility of the described technique in an outpatient fashion, with low, mild and tolerable side effects associated.