Endoscopic Ear Surgery: The Future of Treating Ear Conditions
Out of the 10 people who recommended ear surgery, 8 feel a bit nervous about it.
People tend to avoid surgeries because of their invasiveness. However, Endoscopic Ear Surgery (EES) is a revolutionary, minimally invasive ear surgery technique with multiple benefits. Endoscopic Ear surgery is now a common option for treating several ear conditions, such as a ruptured/ perforated eardrum, Cholesteatoma, Otosclerosis, Hearing loss or a Middle ear tumor and that is why it is considered “The future of treating various ear conditions”.
What is endoscopic ear surgery, and how is it better than the traditional approach?
Endoscopic surgery for ears is a type of procedure that utilizes a specialized tool called an endoscope. This tool consists of a thin tube with a light and camera attached, allowing the doctor to view and access the inner part of the ear through the patient’s ear canal.
This technique, known as Transcranial Endoscopic Ear Surgery (TEES), is often used for intricate operations on delicate structures within the middle ear.
Compared to traditional ear surgery, endoscopic surgery is less invasive. By utilizing the endoscope through the ear canal, doctors can perform surgeries without needing external incisions, resulting in a quicker and smoother recovery for the patient.
From eardrum repair to tumor removal: Conditions treated with Endoscopic ear surgery
However, endoscopic ear surgery is highly recommended in the following cases.
EarDrum Repair (Tympanoplasty) – A tympanoplasty surgery may be recommended for repairing eardrum perforations that don’t heal on their own.
Otosclerosis (Stapedotomy) – Endoscopic Ear Surgery can help treat otosclerosis, an inherited condition that affects the stapes bone in the middle ear.
Cholesteatoma (Tympano-mastoidectomy) – Additionally, EES is useful for removing cholesteatomas, slow-growing cysts that can erode the ear bones, leading to hearing loss and rarely facial nerve damage.
Ear tumor removal– Endoscopic surgery is found very effective in removing glomus tumors (Glomus Tympanicum) that are limited to middle ear cavity only. The angled endoscope is used which makes it easier to locate and extract tumors that can grow in the middle and surrounding areas of the ear..
Ossiculoplasty (is the reconstruction of ossicles (3 ear bones)– An endoscope is used to reconstruct hearing mechanisms using the patient’s own ear ossicles , or a prosthesis is implanted to help restore hearing. Endoscopic surgery may be necessary for treating tympanosclerosis, a condition that occurs when calcium deposits accumulate on the eardrum, causing hearing loss and scar tissue.
The scope for endoscopic ear surgery is very high because of its versatile benefits. Here they are!!
Benefits of endoscopic ear surgery
Minimally invasive: Endoscopic ear surgery is a less invasive option, which means less risk of complications, less pain, and faster recovery compared to traditional surgery.
- No incision required: With endoscopic ear surgery, there’s no need for a cut behind your ear, which means less pain and a shorter healing process. Plus, you won’t have to deal with a visible scar.
- Better visualization: The wide angle view of the endoscope allows your doctor to have a better visualization of the middle ear cavity and ventilation pathways resulting in a more physiological way for performing ear surgery.
- More treatment options: With the endoscope’s ability to reach all the tiny recesses (pouches) of the middle ear, doctors can perform surgeries that aren’t possible with the traditional microscopic approach.
- Patient involvement: During an endoscopic ear procedure, your doctor can take high-definition pictures of your ear, which can help explain the diagnosis, recommended treatment, and surgical results to you.
Having an ear issue? Choose the best ENT specialist Dr. Mustafa Kapadia
Dr. Mustafa Kapadia is a board-certified Indian ENT specialist with over 10 years of clinical experience and a special interest in Ear and Sinus diseases. He has extensive experience and training in Endoscopic Ear Surgery, and he performs these surgeries entirely through the ear canal to avoid any visible external incision or scar.