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Otoendoscopy

OTOENDOSCOPY

ADVANTAGES OF OTOENDOSCOPY

  1. It provides easy access to sinus tympani, facial recess, epitympanic sinus and protympanum, therefore helps in clearance of disease from these areas. These areas are anatomical blind spots for the operating microscope.
  2. Manoeuvrability.
  3. Proximity of image.
  4. Wide field of vision
  5. Angle of view
  6. There is reduced surgical morbidity. 
OTOENDOSCOPY

Endoscopic view of intact tympanic membrane

 

DISADVANTAGES OF OTOENDOSCOPE

  1. Only one hand free to operate.
  2. Peri-operative haemorrhage that leads to fogging and smearing of the endoscope tip.
  3. Limited movement by the extreme curvature of the external auditory canal (EAC).
  4. Risk of thermal injury to the middle ear
  5. Unsafe advancement during exploration can cause dislocation or fracture of ossicles.
OTOENDOSCOPY
OTOENDOSCOPY

SPECIFICATIONS OF OTOENDOSCOPE

  • Generally 3 mm and 4 mm diameter 0, 30 and 45 degree endoscopes are used.
  • Rarely, 1.9 mm, 4.0 mm diameter and 70 degree endoscope are also used especially to pass through the posterior tympanotomy. 

DIAGNOSTIC INDICATIONS 

  1. Extent of retraction pockets and cholesteatoma. The diagnostic potential of the endoscope lies most commonly in the evaluation of retraction pockets and cholesteatoma, particularly in blind spots such as the sinus tympani, attic, protympanum and hypotympanum.
  2. Ossicular continuity through perforation. Evaluation of ossicular chain continuity may be undertaken endoscopically through an existing tympanic membrane perforation. 
  3. Otoendoscopy through myringotomy. Middle ear endoscopy may also be carried out through a myringotomy for many indications such as unexplained conductive hearing loss, perilymphatic fistulas or occult cholesteatoma.
  4. Tympanoplasty/ ossiculoplasty surgery.
  5. Retraction pocket & cholesteatoma surgery. 
  6. Minimally invasive second look canal wall up mastoid surgery.
  7. Newer applications include endoscopic stapedotomy, endoscopic cochlear implantation and total transcanal approaches to the inner ear. 

Easy access to sinus tympani, facial recess, epitympanic sinus and protympanum, which were the anatomical blind spots for the operating microscope, therefore otoendoscopy helps in clearance of disease from these areas.

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Learning resources.

  • Scott-Brown, Textbook of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.
  • Glasscock-Shambaugh, Textbook of  Surgery of the Ear.
  • Logan Turner, Textbook of Diseases of The Nose, Throat and Ear Head And Neck Surgery.
  • Rob and smith, Textbook of Operative surgery.
  • P L Dhingra, Textbook of Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat.
  • Hazarika P, Textbook of Ear Nose Throat And Head Neck Surgery Clinical Practical.
  • Mohan Bansal, Textbook of Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat Head and Neck surgery.
  • Anirban Biswas, Textbook of Clinical Audio-vestibulometry.

    Author:

Dr. Rahul Bagla ENT Textbook

Dr. Rahul Bagla
MBBS (MAMC, Delhi) MS ENT (UCMS, Delhi)
Fellow Rhinoplasty & Facial Plastic Surgery.
Renowned Teaching Faculty
Mail: msrahulbagla@gmail.com
India

 

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