AIM: To investigate the proportional distribution of the size of lacrimal sac in recurrent dacryocystitis after the removal of artificial nasolacrimal duct and the clinical effect of dacryocystorhinostomy under nasal endoscope on patients with recurrent dacryocystitis.

METHODS: Totally 73 patients(73 eyes)with recurrent dacryocystitis after removal of artificial nasolacrimal duct in our hospital from January 2018 to November 2019 were retrospectively studied. All patients underwent dacryocystography after hospitalization, and then performed dacryocystorhinostomy combined with intubation of double- artificial nasolacrimal duct under nasal endoscope and general anesthesia. The size of lacrimal sac was measured, and the area and effective rate of fistula were analyzed respectively at 2wk, 1, 3 and 6mo after operation.

RESULTS: There were 13 eyes with large dacryocyst(Transverse diameter > 5mm, 18%), 26 eyes with middle dacryocyst(Transverse diameter between 2-5mm, 36%), and 34 eyes with small dacryocyst(Transverse diameter <2mm, 47%); There was significant difference in the stoma area of dacryocystostomy at 2wk, 1, 3, 6mo respectively(P<0.05); Compared with 2wk, 1, 3mo after operation, the stoma area at 6mo after operation significantly decreased by 14.08±0.68, 10.49±0.75, 0.31±0.23mm²(all P<0.05); The curative rates were 100%, 93%, 88% and 85% at 2wk, 1, 3, 6mo after operation, respectively.

CONCLUSION: After the removal of the artificial nasolacrimal duct, the majority of the patients with recurrent dacryocystitis typically featured medium and small lacrimal sac. The curative effect of this type of recurrent dacryocystitis by dacryocystorhinostomy and intubation under nasal endoscope was proved to be effective, which could serve as a proper and better choice in clinic practice.