Vol.96 No.5 contentsPRACTICA OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGICA
Vol. 96 No.5 May 2003
Navigation Surgery in Otolaryngology
-Recent Progress and Future Direction-
Satoshi Fukuda
(Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine)
Introduction: Recent technological progress has made it possible to precisely identify appropriate locations and directions in the surgical field using a navigation system. In July 1999, we started navigation surgery with an optical-tracking system. In this report we evaluate the advantages and indications for navigation surgery based on our experiences with 77 patients.
Subjects and Methods: Seventy-seven patients underwent surgery under the use of an optical-tracking navigation system (Stealth Station) from July 1999 to August 2002. This system was mainly composed of a work station, reference probe, image marker and positioning sensor unit. Patients consisted of 36 with nasal and paranasal lesions, 40 with temporal bone lesions and 1 with head & neck lesion.
Results: It was very useful to identify and observe the target points and structures accurately during surgery. Measured accuracy was 1.02 mm in nasal and paranasal lesions and 0.42 mm in temporal bone lesions. Time required for registration was 17 min. in nasal and paranasal lesions and 43 min. in temporal bone lesions.
Conclusion: In conclusion, this navigation system is safe, accurate and reliable, and was useful for reconfirming skull base lesions. The disadvantages of this system are its high cost and time for registration.
Congenital anomalies, re-operative cases losing their anatomical landmarks, petrous apex lesions, cochlear implants in ossified cochlea, cystic or small lesions in frontal, ethmoid or sphenoid sinuses and pituitary lesions are regarded as good indications for using this system.
Key words : navigation surgery, optical-tracking system, registration