Clinical Effects of Guardcel (R) Nasal Packing on Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy

Purpose: To compare the clinical effects of Guardcel (R) (Genewel. Co, Seongnam, Korea) and Nasopore (R) (Polyganics, Rozenburglaan, Groningen, The Netherlands), two types of absorbable nasal packing materials after endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy. Methods: A total of 41 patients (49 eyes) who underwent endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy from March 2017 to January 2019 were studied retrospectively. Twenty seven eyes were packed with Guardcel (R) and twenty two eyes with Nasopore (R). We compared the postoperative anatomical and functional surgical success rates between the groups at 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, and 6 months, as well as the frequency of postoperative complications including bleeding. Results: There was no significant difference between the Guardcel (R) and Nasopore (R) groups in the postoperative anatomical and functional surgical success rate at 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, or 6 months. Also, there was no significant group difference in the incidence of postoperative complications. Conclusions: The anatomical and functional surgical success rates and incidence of postoperative complications, including bleeding, synechiae, infection, granuloma, and revision were similar between the Guardcel (R) and Nasopore (R) groups. Therefore, Guardcel (R) can be used safely and effectively as an absorbable nasal packing material in endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy treatment.