Eye infection after cataract surgery needs another surgery now,please only professional answers. Thank you?

My mother got a persistent eye infection after cataract surgery. She was treated several times with antibiotics and drainage of the tear duct several times.
She ended up with a severe eye infection that required her to be admitted to the hospital with IV antibiotics and steroids for the inflamation.Now she is home on po antibiotics and the plan is to have a surgery in 2 weeks to remove the tear duct (?). Not sure of the type of surgery as she is older and cannot explain to me. As I live in another country I worry how serious the surgery may be and what it entails. She mentioned general anesthesia....
Anyone knows the name of this surgery, the risks and the recovery afterwards? Will she need someone with her all the time?
If you are not familiar please refrain from answering, only professional and educated replies please as I need to decide whether to fly and stay with her for awhile
Thank you in advance

You've not given enough information. No, really. If her infection is of the lid, and she's having recurrent dacryocystitis, then she'll need to have the lacrimal sac opened and possibly a communication between the sac and the nose opened for normal tear drainage. This is assuming that the infection is in the lacrimal system and not the eye itself.

An infection of the eye itself, or endophthalmitis would require surgery right away including a vitrectomy and injection of intraocular antibiotics and steroids depending on the cause or bacteria. That should have already been done.

But as you are talking about lacrimal drainage and tear ducts and sacs and more surgery, it's hard to know which type you refer to.

If she's older, go. The immune system in older folks is stronger in some ways, and weaker in others. In elderly patients, it doesn't take all that much to tip the balance and within a relatively short time, they'll get complications such as pneumonia, pulmonary embolus, strokes, cardiac arrhythmia's, etc., and won't be able to respond fast enough, even with antibiotics, and the next thing you know you're getting a phone call... so sorry but.

If you go, she'll have you there. If things go well, you'll have shared a time with her while you can. If you don't go and it goes well, well... you weren't there when it could have been bad, but she's OK. If you don't go and she does poorly, you'll regret it the rest of your life. Should have gone, went too late, should have listened. We don't have the funds, but we could have figured something out. Wish I had gone.

just go. When you get more information, let me know, I'll explain it to you in regular English terms so you'll understand what's going on.

As Paul Mb said, it's hard to be sure based on the information you gave, but it does sound like she's scheduled for a dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR).

The DCR is considered safe and effective, but it is a bloody surgery, so there is risk of hemorrhaging. With any surgery you have the risks of infection, reaction to anesthesia, etc.

Your mother will need someone to take her to surgery and bring her home, she should have someone to stay with her the first day. As far as the surgery, she will have either glue or a few stitches on the side of her nose which typically stay in place 7-10 days. There will he a small tube inserted in her tear duct, but it's not painful and doesn't require any care, it stays in for several months. She will be on antibiotic drops or ointment.

Make sure your mother has given her Dr. permission to contact you regarding her surgery, then call the office and ask. Every Dr. wants to be sure their patient will get the care they need, especially after surgery.

Best wishes!

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