A minimally invasive technique for endoscopic middle ear surgery

Middle ear endoscopy should be considered a useful adjunctive or alternative method to microscopic surgical exploration for middle ear pathology. This minimally invasive technique provides excellent visualization for viewing the surgical micromorphology and pathological findings of the middle ear. Selected patients underwent middle ear endoscopy using a transtympanic approach. Rigid endoscopes of 2.7 mm and 1.9 mm caliber and 0°, 30° and 70° viewing angles were introduced into the tympanic cavity through small tympanostomy incisions. The indications and technique with video monitoring are discussed.