COMPUTER-ASSISTED SURGICAL TECHNIQUES - A VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF OTOLARYNGOLOGY - HEAD AND NECK-SURGERY

Our specialty relies increasingly on technologic advancements and incr eased knowledge of pathophysiology at the cellular and molecular level ; these trends will continue. The consequences in the laryngologic, ot ologic, and rhinologic surgery are presented. Envision the surgeon pos itioned at a computer workstation to perform surgery. Following endosc opy and the placement of the microlaryngoscope, the only contact he or she will have with the patient is through robotic ''hands'' on the en d of thin rods. These hands thread through the laryngoscope and hold t issue without any tremor. Multiple-wavelength lasers are available, ea ch tuned to optimally incise particular tissue types. The laser beam w ill be delivered under computer control with active feed-back systems involving ultrasonic imaging, infrared thermography, and photo-acousti c monitoring. Similar visions are presented in otology and rhinology w ith microinstrumentation and virtual reality.