Endoscopic and Open Approaches to Pediatric Otologic Surgery

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Endoscopic ear surgery has become very popular in our field due to lower morbidity, higher visual resolution, and surgical efficiency. While endoscopic otologic surgery has been described previously at AAO-HNS, this course will discuss the evolution of pediatric otologic surgery from open to endoscopic approaches and when certain approaches are favorable. Attendees will be exposed to ear anatomy from an endoscopic view, surgical set-up and techniques (tympanoplasty, ossicular chain reconstruction), indications, avoiding and managing complications will be discussed. Videos will be incorporated into the course to aid in illustration. A risk stratification and treatment algorithm used by the senior presenter will be discussed based on thousands of otologic surgeries and outcomes.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 1: Attendees will be able to understand the equipment and and set-up for an endoscopic ear surgery on a pediatric patient.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 2: Attendees will be able to risk stratify patients based on clinical findings to optimize surgical success.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 3: Attendees will be able to appreciate when an open approach is preferable depending on the underlying pediatric otologic pathology.

BACKGROUND STATEMENT: Pediatric endoscopic ear surgery has been historically under-represented at AAO-HNS. As popularity has grown, so has the interest in incorporating endoscopic techniques in daily practice.