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Rationale for Endoscopic Ear Surgery

In clear contrast to the impact of the introduction of endoscope in most surgical disciplines, the practice of ear surgery has changed little and it continues to be the domain for the microscope. Depending on the task at hand, there are many distinctions that would make the endoscope a better instrument than the microscope and vice versa. We all need to master working with both instruments to better understand and treat pathologies of the ear. The objective of this group and this web site is to neutralize these longstanding biases toward the microscope and to get all of us to use the best instrument in the best way possible to help our patients.

The ability to place the surgeons eyes within the ear cavity using angled endoscopes, allows the operator a contextual understanding of the anatomy that is difficult to match using the microscope.  The disease/ anatomical interface is better appreciated.  This improved anatomical understanding, in turn provides confidence in surgical procedures both endoscopically and microscopically.

When compared to the microscope, two distinct advantages are present with the endoscope.

  1. The Objective lens is placed within the ear canal or middle ear, which allows for an all-encompassing contextual view of the disease/ anatomy interface.  In contrast, the traditional microscopic method relies on removal of significant amounts of normal bone and soft tissue, often with removal of intact structures to fully observe the disease extent.
  2. The live image used by the surgeon is the same one that everyone else in the operating room is observing. This simultaneous viewing significantly increases engagement, teaching opportunities and interest in the surgical procedure from all present in the OR.
enscopic ear surgery field of view

The use of the endoscope enables the surgeon to visualize past the shaft of larger surgical instruments, such as drills and curettes, and allows better visualization of anatomical structures.

 

To view the up to date research on Endoscopic Ear Surgery, please visit the link below.

RSS endoscopy ear

  • Revisiting Eustachian Tube Anatomy and Physiology June 10, 2026
    The Eustachian tube (ET) it is a complex structure connecting the middle ear cavity with the nasopharynx. Its function is to maintain middle ear ventilation to facilitate transmission of sound from the tympanic membrane to the cochlea. It is located medial to the parapharyngeal space. The ET and tympanomastoid cavities form an anatomic and functional […]
    Davide Soloperto
  • Positive airway pressure-associated epiglottis-related obstruction in adult men with obstructive sleep apnea June 8, 2026
    CONCLUSION: Visual epiglottis-related obstruction during DISE with PAP occurs in some individuals that limits increases in ventilation and mean inspiratory airflow normally seen with increases in PAP levels.
    Maxwell L Weng
  • Gaze Mapping and Observational Behavior During Nasal Endoscopy June 6, 2026
    No abstract
    William S Smithee
  • Giant Epiglottic Inclusion Cyst June 2, 2026
    Epiglottic inclusion cysts are extremely rare benign laryngeal lesions. A 41-year-old woman suffered from persistent pharyngeal foreign body sensation for one year. Laryngoscopy detected a giant epiglottic cyst, and contrast-enhanced cervical CT showed the typical pedunculated 'apple sign'. Under fiber optic intubation, complete resection was performed by suspension laryngoscopic coblation. Histopathology verified epiglottic inclusion cyst. […]
    Changqing Wang
  • Global burden of enteric infectious diseases, diarrhoeal diseases, and corresponding aetiologies, 1990-2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 June 2, 2026
    BACKGROUND: Enteric infectious diseases claim more than 1 million lives annually and are among the top ten causes of death in children younger than 5 years. Remarkable global investment has been dedicated to enteric infectious disease prevention and control; however, the shifting global health landscape is testing the continuance of progress. To evaluate the current […]
    GBD 2023 Diarrhoeal Disease and Enteric Infectious Diseases Collaborators
  • Subjective Voice Outcomes and Intralaryngeal Findings after Transcervical Chondrolaryngoplasty May 28, 2026
    IntroductionTo evaluate short-term postoperative intralaryngeal findings and subjective voice outcomes following transcervical chondrolaryngoplasty with endoscopic vocal fold localization.MethodsA retrospective review was performed of 35 patients undergoing transcervical chondrolaryngoplasty by a single surgeon. Three patients were excluded because of incomplete documentation, leaving 32 patients for analysis. All patients underwent preoperative and 1-week postoperative flexible laryngoscopy and...
    Lily A Stevenson
  • Surgical reconstruction selection and prognosis in congenital ossicular chain malformations May 28, 2026
    Objective:Based on the anatomical characteristics and clinical manifestations of congenital ossicular chain anomalies, this study aims to establish a selection strategy for ossiculoplasty and to evaluate surgical outcomes and prognosis, as well as to provide evidence for clinical management. Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data from patients with congenital ossicular chain malformation […]
    Chenhua Wang
  • Laryngeal neuroma in a MEN-2B paediatric patient May 28, 2026
    Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B (MEN-2B) syndrome is a genetic disorder that predisposes to the development of tumours in the mouth, eyes and endocrine glands. It is associated with mucosal neuromas; however, laryngeal mucosal neuromas are very rare. We describe an adolescent with MEN-2B who presented with dysphonia, nocturnal stridor and exertional dyspnoea following a […]
    Mohammad Alsalem
  • High-resolution computed tomography imaging features and endoscopic surgical outcomes of congenital ossicular chain malformation with concomitant external auditory canal stenosis May 28, 2026
    Objective: To investigate the high-resolution CT (HRCT) imaging characteristics and endoscopic surgical outcomes in patients with congenital ossicular chain malformation and concomitant external auditory canal stenosis. Methods: The clinical data from congenital ossicular chain malformation patients with concomitant external auditory canal stenosis who were admitted to the Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University between […]
    W X Liao
  • Efficacy of endoscopic surgery versus microscopic surgery in the treatment of congenital ossicular malformations: a meta-analysis May 28, 2026
    Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of endoscopic ear surgery (EES) and microscopic ear surgery (MES) in the treatment of congenital ossicular malformation. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and Wanfang databases were systematically searched from inception to June 20, 2025, to identify comparative studies of […]
    Z Y Chen