Navigational Surgery in Otorhinolaryngology

Abstract

Application of navigation systems to otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery should permit safer, sounder operationswhen attempting revision surgery on anatomically ambiguous target organs, surgery on lesions expanding to organswith risk factors for complications, and in minimally invasive surgery. If such systems were used in ear surgery, the locationof important organs in the temporal bone could be checked. In operations on the nose or paranasal sinus at risk organscould be avoided (e.g. orbit and basal skull) and residual cells and incision locations on postoperative cyst could be identified.When operating tumors of head and neck, the preoperative and pretreatment status could be grasped and the area oftumors resection could be determined, including the safety margin. In addition to these applications, navigation systemsare useful for operations such as choanal atresia and aural atresia, fracture repair, skull base surgery, and on biopsy, nerveblock and surgical training. Although this system has the potential to improve the surgeon's confidence and knowledgeof patient anatomy, the overestimate its ability should be careful without any knowledge of anatomy and surgical experiences.