Image-guided transnasal endoscopic surgery of the paranasal sinuses and anterior skull base

Image-guided surgery represents a new technology with applicability to patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery for medically refractory rhinosinusitis. It also shows promise in helping to safely expand minimally invasive transnasal endoscopic techniques for nonrhinosinusitis diagnoses of the paranasal sinuses, orbits, and anterior skull base. This report discusses the application of the InstaTrak, a commercially available image-guided surgical navigation system, in 109 consecutive operations. The device was useful for localization to within less than 3 mm in 106 (98%) cases. In the remaining three (2%) surgeries where the perceived accuracy was not within 3 mm, the device was not used. The acquisition of radiographic data, operating room set-up, intraoperative localization and complications, and indications for surgical navigation will be discussed.