ENDOSCOPE-ASSISTED EAR SURGERY

Endoscopes deliver the otologic surgeon's view into the temporal bone to provide rapid access to its intricate recesses. The attic, sinus ty mpani, facial recess, hypotympanum, internal auditory canal, and other recesses are immediately visualized with angled endoscopes, using min imal exposure without the time-consuming removal of overlying bone. Th is report presents results of 32 otologic and neurotologic operations, performed since 1993, that incorporated endoscope-guided dissection a s a principal part of the procedure to reduce incision size, exposure width, and operative time, or to access areas otherwise inaccessible. Included are endoscopic excision of acquired cholesteatoma without mas toidectomy, second-look mastoid procedures, mastoidectomy for biopsy ( performed entirely endoscopically), and acoustic neuroma dissection fr om the lateral internal auditory canal. Endoscopic ear surgery is a va luable adjunct to conventional surgical techniques that require wider exposures and are limited to the direct line of sight.