Abstract
Transoral surgery is a less invasive treatment that is becoming a major strategy for the treatment of laryngo-pharyngeal cancers. Particularly in Japan, endoscopic laryngo-pharyngeal surgery (ELPS) has been developed to treat laryngo-pharyngeal superficial cancers. First we observe the operation field using a flexible endoscope for the upper gastrointestinal tract. Then the resection procedure is performed by head and neck surgeons using a rigid curved laryngo-pharyngoscope. The operation requires skill and experience of endoscopy and is performed very often in support of the endoscopist. However, the arrangement of staff between departments and limited manpower sometimes make it difficult to achieve smooth and seamless planning of the surgeries. Our department conducts the surgical procedure starting from ELPS induction, which is performed only by head and neck surgeons. This report describes the instruments, system devices and procedures used in our department for ELPS, and provides some useful tips for operators.
