Introducing endoscopic assistance on routinary basis for vestibular schwannomas resection: A single centre acceptance analysis

Objective

The use of endoscopic assistance in retrosigmoid approach for tumors of the cerebellopontine angle brought undoubted technological advantages in skull base surgery.

Nonetheless, the use of the endoscope is not as widespread as it could be.

The aim of the study is to analyze the impressions of neurosurgeons and otologists with different experience in vestibular schwannoma surgery, experiencing the introduction of the endoscope in surgical daily practice.

Methods

All patients undergoing vestibular schwannoma surgery were recruited in the period from January 2019 to December 2020. The endoscope-assistance and a minimum follow-up of 12 months were considered inclusion criteria. An eight items questionnaire was administered to the surgeons who used endoscope-assistance during surgery.

Results

A total number of 20 patients were recruited. Five surgeons experienced the use of 0° and 45° optics in the “pre-resection” and “intra-meatal” phases of the procedures. The survey gave positive feedbacks on the introduction of the endoscope in vestibular schwannoma resection. The main drawback was the difficulty to manage the use of angled optics.

Conclusions

Despite the known limitations of the study, the idea of investigating surgeons’ impressions on the use of the endoscope could be another motif to explain why this instrument and its diffusion is limited despite its advantages in vestibular schwannoma surgery.