Premium
Transoral palate‐sparing nasopharyngectomy with the F lex ® S ystem: Preclinical study
Author(s) -
Richmon Jeremy D.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.24918
Subject(s) - medicine , soft palate , neurovascular bundle , cadaver , endoscope , cadaveric spasm , flex , transoral robotic surgery , surgery , oral cavity , dissection (medical) , dentistry , telecommunications , computer science
Objectives/Hypothesis The nasopharynx remains one of the most challenging areas to surgically access given its deep location, narrow confines, and surrounding critical neurovascular anatomy. Various open and endoscopic approaches have been developed, all of which have been limited to some degree in their ability to bimanually instrument and visualize in this area. Study Design Cadaveric dissection. Methods Study using one fresh human cadaver. A novel, highly articulated endoscope with flexible instrumentation, the Flex System, was placed in the oral cavity and advanced around the soft palate into the nasopharynx to perform a nasopharyngectomy. Results A complete nasopharyngectomy was accomplished with the Flex System without palatal incisions or extended‐access approaches. Conclusions The Flex System is a novel computer‐assisted flexible endoscope with a highly articulated scope and flexible instruments that was successfully used to perform a nasopharyngectomy while avoiding any additional incisions. This system holds promise in minimally invasive skull base surgery. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope , 125:318–322, 2015