The role of image-guidance systems for head and neck surgery

Although image-guidance systems have gained widespread acceptance for neurosurgical procedures, their role for extracranial surgery of the head and neck is yet to be defined.

To describe the authors' experience with image-guidance systems and to measure the effects of image-guided technology on the performance of minimally invasive otolaryngological procedures.

Prospective cohort study.

Optical- and electromagnetic-based image-guidance systems were used during the performance of endoscopic surgery on patients with disease of the paranasal sinuses, orbit, skull base, and temporal bone (n = 79). Results were compared with those in control patients who underwent similar surgery without image guidance during the same period (n = 42).

Intraoperative anatomical localization was accurate to within 2 mm at the start of surgery in all cases. Accuracy degraded by 0.89 +/- 0.20 mm (mean +/- SE) during the operative procedure. The use of an image-guidance system increased operating room time by a mean of 17.4 minutes per case (image-guidance group, 137.3 +/- 6.0 minutes [mean +/- SE]; control group, 119.9 +/- 5.7 minutes; P=.006) and increased hospital charges by approximately $496 per case. Intraoperative blood loss (image-guidance group, 178.4 +/- 18.0 mL [mean +/- SE]; control group, 149.4 +/- 20.1 mL) and complication rates (image-guidance group, 2.7%; control group, 4.7%) did not differ significantly between groups.

Image-guidance systems can provide the head and neck surgeon with accurate information regarding anatomical localization in cases with poor surgical landmarks caused by extensive disease or prior surgery; however, the use of such systems is associated with increased operative time and expense.