Three-dimensional endoscopic sinus surgery: feasibility and technical aspects.

The development of endoscopic techniques for a variety of sinonasal disorders has paralleled advances in technology and instrumentation including angled endoscopes, multi-chip cameras, and image guidance. Despite the progressive technological innovations in modern endoscopic surgery, the visualization that is currently used remains 2-dimensional (2D). This is associated with significant limitations, notably a lack of depth perception. Although visual and haptic cues allow for a surgeon to understand the spatial relationships of the various structures, current visualization technology fails to provide the 3-dimensional (3D) perspective that is available in open and microscopic surgery. The development of a miniature stereoscopic camera and its adaptation to rigid endoscopes allows for performance of 3D endoscopic sinus surgery. It is hypothesized that incorporation of 3D visualization may enhance the spatial resolution required in advanced endoscopic approaches with a theoretical potential to improve outcomes.