A novel approach to nasopharyngoscopy in canine and feline cadavers: development and application of 3-dimensional-printed instrument guides.

OBJECTIVE

To develop and evaluate the use of 3-D-printed instrument guides for nasopharyngoscopy, focusing on maneuverability, the ability to biopsy the nasal choanae, and foreign body retrieval.

METHODS

Various sizes of 3-D-printed guides (small, medium, large) and angles (160°, 170°, 175°, and 180°) were tested alongside retroflex nasopharyngoscopy in cadavers. Four cadavers representing different sizes and species (3 canines and 1 feline) were utilized to evaluate the success of the 3-D-printed instrument guides. The study evaluated the maneuverability of each guide within the nasopharynx, along with their effectiveness in facilitating choanal biopsies and retrieving a simulated grass foreign body. Performance was compared across guides to determine the most effective design.

RESULTS

The 180° guide had limited maneuverability and was unable to facilitate biopsies or foreign body retrieval. The 175° guide showed moderate maneuverability and successfully performed biopsies and foreign body removal, although with mild resistance to movement. The 170° guide demonstrated high maneuverability, enabling smooth access in all directions and consistent procedural success. The 160° guide exhibited the greatest flexibility and procedural success, providing superior maneuverability and ease of use.

CONCLUSIONS

Three-dimensional-printed instrument guides with more acute angles improve nasopharyngeal access and procedural efficiency. The 160° guide showed the greatest potential for clinical application in facilitating biopsies and foreign body removal.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Three-dimensional-printed nasopharyngoscopy guides enhance diagnostic and therapeutic procedures by improving access, biopsy collection, and foreign body retrieval. More acute angles offer greater maneuverability, supporting their clinical use for minimally invasive nasopharyngeal interventions in veterinary medicine.