New endoscope shaft for endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a new endoscope shaft developed for suction-aspiration during endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery.


METHODS
A custom-made shaft for a Wolf endoscope (Richard Wolf GmbH, Knittlingen, Germany) was developed with a height of 10 mm and a width of 5 mm, allowing an additional working channel for the endoscope for flexible suction tubes with a diameter of up to 10-French.


RESULTS
The new shaft was used in 30 consecutive endoscopic transsphenoidal procedures for pituitary adenomas. It allowed true bimanual manipulation without having to fixate the endoscope. Tumor removal was facilitated, technical problems were not encountered, and operation time was reduced. There were no instrumentation-related complications.


CONCLUSIONS
The new shaft improves the ergonomics of endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery in cases in which the endoscope is handheld.
Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. e.vanlindert@nch.umcn.nl
Erik J
EJ
van Lindert
J André
JA
Grotenhuis
D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019723:Endoscopes; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D018511:Systems Integration; D016896:Treatment Outcome