Dacryocystostomy is a medical term that refers to a surgical procedure that creates a pathway between the lacrimal sac and the nasal cavity to correct obstruction of the tear ducts. The word is pronounced /ˌdækri.oʊ.sɪsˈtɒstəmi/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first part "dacryo" means tear, while "cyst" refers to a fluid-filled sac. "Ostomy" refers to the surgical creation of an opening. Therefore, the word spelling for dacryocystostomy reflects the components of the procedure and its purpose.
Dacryocystostomy is a medical procedure that involves the creation of a new passageway between the lacrimal sac and the nasal cavity to treat a blocked tear duct. The procedure is typically performed by an ophthalmologist or an oculoplastic surgeon who specializes in eye and tear duct disorders.
When the nasolacrimal duct, which carries tears from the eye to the nose, becomes blocked due to various reasons such as an infection, injury, or abnormal growth, it can lead to symptoms like excessive tearing, recurrent eye infections, and a constant watery discharge from the eye. In such cases, a dacryocystostomy is often recommended.
During the procedure, the surgeon creates a small incision in the nasal cavity near the lacrimal sac, which is a small pouch located in the inner corner of the eye. This allows the surgeon to access the blocked tear duct. The surgeon then carefully removes any blockage in the duct and creates a new pathway by making a tiny hole in the surrounding tissue. This allows tears to drain properly from the eyes into the nasal cavity, relieving the symptoms associated with a blocked tear duct.
Dacryocystostomy is typically performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on the patient's condition and preference. It is considered a safe and effective procedure, with a high success rate in relieving symptoms and improving tear drainage.
The word "Dacryocystostomy" is derived from the combination of three Greek roots:
1. "Dacryo" comes from the Greek word "dakryon", which means "tear" or "teardrop".
2. "Cyst" is derived from the Greek word "kustis", which means "bladder" or "sac".
3. "stomy" comes from the Greek word "stoma", which means "mouth" or "opening".
Therefore, "Dacryocystostomy" is a compound word that literally means "teardrop bladder opening". It refers to a surgical procedure to create an alternate drainage pathway for tears from the lacrimal sac into the nasal cavity.