gms | German Medical Science

There are several CAS-systems in use in modern endonasal sinus surgery. Current challenges are practicability, reliability and precision. Assessment of the available new systems requires trialling these in day-to-day clinical routine operation for at least some months.

This study investigates StealthStation^® TreonTM HNO plus (Medtronic Navigation, USA) in microendoscopic sinus surgery. The used technology is an optical navigation system, which allows for active and passive navigation. Especially intraoperative practicability of this navigation system were evaluated in 132 cases (including 68 revision cases).

A preparation time of 4.5 minutes was sufficient in all 132 reported cases. No software or hardware problems occurred. The intraoperative precision of the navigation system was on average 1.3 mm. In one case the FESS frame was removed during the operation. Patient registration was necessary once again. The surgeons assessed the navigation system not to be necessary in 36 operations (27.3%), to be helpful in 80 operations (60.6%) and to be crucial in 16 operations (12.1%).

Intraoperative navigation is particularly helpful under difficult anatomical conditions, such as caused by previous operations. The tested navigation system works reliable and can be recommended for clinical day-to-day work. It can be integrated into surgical procedures without significantly more preparation time.