ASPO086 - Surgeon perspectives of 3D endoscopy in pediatric Otolaryngology surgery: A qualitative study
Sunday, May 1, 2022
11:20 AM – 12:00 PM CT
Location: Landmark C
Brendan D. McNeely, MSc, Nicholas Fitzpatrick, MBBS, Katharina Leitmeyre, MD, Julie Pauwels, MSc, Neil K. Chadha, MBChB(Hons), MPHe BSc(Hons), FRCS;
Faculty of Medicine, BC Children's Hosp., Div. of Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Introduction: Three-dimensional (3D) endoscopy has emerged as a surgical tool to improve visualization in Otolaryngology surgery. Existing evaluations of this novel technique have been limited in breadth or volume of surgical procedures and have not yielded a definitive consensus on its utility in Otolaryngology. This is the first study to use a qualitative methodology to assess the potential advantages and disadvantages of the application of 3D endoscopes in pediatric otolaryngology surgery.
Methods: Open-question, structured interviews were conducted of six Otolaryngologists operating at a tertiary pediatric centre, with a minimum 1 year of experience using a 3D endoscope system. The interview protocol was standardized and results were blinded between participants. The transcribed interview responses were assessed through modified thematic analyses using open and axial coding methodologies.
Results: Seven over-arching themes were identified from the data. Advantages of 3D endoscopy included (1) improved stereoscopic vision, which (2) greatly facilitated teaching through better anatomical visualization allowing learners to safely operate more extensively. Moreover, the surgeons found (3) improved surgical outcomes and patient experience for procedures that involved laryngeal structures or pathology. In contrast, (4) technical difficulties included surgeon positioning and increased set-up time, however (5) this resolved with increased device use experience and (6) no physical side-effects were encountered by surgeons using the system. Additionally, the 3D system was (7) found to have a disadvantage in sinus surgery due to frequent soiling of the camera tip impairing stereoscopic vision.
Conclusion: Three-dimensional endoscopy was found to improve teaching for surgical trainees across all Otolaryngology airway procedures. This innovative surgical tool may play a clinically beneficial role particularly in pediatric airway surgeries that involve the larynx.