High-definition 3D exoscope-assisted tonsillectomy

• Published in: American journal of otolaryngology 2023-01, Vol.44 (1), p.103674-103674, Article 103674
• Main Authors: Festa, Bianca Maria, Zuppardo, Jessica, Costantino, Andrea, Ferreli, Fabio, Spriano, Giuseppe, Mercante, Giuseppe, De Virgilio, Armando
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Complications; Endoscopy; Exoscope; Exoscopic surgery; General anesthesia; High definition; Mouth; Otolaryngology; Otology; Pain; Precision surgery; Surgeons; Surgery; Tonsillectomy; Tonsillitis; Training; Visualization
• ISSN: 0196-0709; 1532-818X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2022.103674

Tonsillectomy is one of the most frequent surgical procedures performed by ENT surgeons. The high-definition 3D exoscope showed to be a promising tool to substitute the operating microscope in performing microsurgical procedures. However, transoral surgery might represent an innovative application of this visualization and magnification tool. In this video, a bilateral tonsillectomy was performed entirely under exoscopic visualization by an ENT resident. The high-definition 3D exoscope allowed to conduct the procedure with higher precision, with potential benefits in terms of complications and postoperative pain. Moreover, the use of the exoscope demonstrated important benefit from the educational perspective, allowing the senior surgeon to continuously monitor the resident without interruptions and position changes. The exoscopic-assisted tonsillectomy is a valuable alternative to conventional transoral procedures, and the superiority of this technique should be further investigated in cohort studies.