Abstract

Endoscopic frontal sinus surgery remains as a very challenging technique with potential for serious morbidity and even mortality. The close proximity of orbital contents, the cribriform plate and the anterior skull base pose serious challenges in performing this operation safely. The frontal recess anatomy is even more treacherous in recurrent cases and in diseased processes such as polyps and other tumors blocking the nasofrontal recess.

Guide Wire Augmented Nasofrontal Sinusotomy (GWANS) allows for real time surgical guidance allowing the surgeon to confidently dissect through diseased tissue knowing all along where the boundaries of the nasofrontal recess lies and thus avoid injuring vital structures. This is a new and adjunctive tool for augmenting the standard endoscopic nasofrontal sinusotomy technique.

Keywords: Endosocopic frontal sinus surgery, Minimally invasive frontal sinus surgery, Guide-wire assisted frontal sinus surgery, Balloon assisted frontal sinus surgery