Applicability of Transnasal Echography for Identification of Internal Carotid Artery.

OBJECTIVE

To study the applicability of transnasal echography for the internal carotid artery (ICA) imaging during endoscopic procedures, primarily nasopharyngectomy.

STUDY

DESIGN

Non-randomized controlled cohort.

METHODS

The tip of a pediatric transducer for transesophageal echography was inserted into each nostril under endoscopic control and placed in the ipsilateral Rosenmuller's fossa. The ICA's internal diameter and distance between the nasopharyngeal wall and the artery's closest point were measured on each side. Two independent examiners measured the same parameters on the axial plane of the skull base computer tomography (CT). Agreement between CT and echography measurements was estimated by the Bland-Altman approach.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven ICAs (sides) were available for the echography-CT agreement analysis. Inter method agreement for both parameters was similar to the inter examiner agreement for the CT measurements.

CONCLUSIONS

Our first study on endoscopic echography demonstrated that this method is applicable, potentially allowing safer transnasal surgery in the ICA vicinity.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 132:1184-1188, 2022.