Endoscopic Middle Ear Cleft Surgery (EMES): Our Philosophy, Concept and Application.

The functional aspect of preservation of every healthy anatomical structure, particularly the ossicles, non-diseased mastoid cortex and middle ear mucosa, and to achieve this by transacanal endoscopic dual hand approach to middle ear, aditus and mastoid antrum with minimal posterior atticotomy and proximal aditotomy. The prospective study has been conducted over a period of 12 years from 2009 to 2021 in the Jorhat Medical College, Assam Medical College and Niramoy Hospital, Jorhat, Assam. Follow up was for a minimum of 4 years. The current study was a prospective hospital based study, carried out from May 1st, 2009 to April 30th, 2021 involving 157 subjects from 18 to 65 years with mean age of 38 + 2.5. Graft uptake rate of 93.6%. Minimal atticotomy with proximal aditotomy offers a clear view of the antrum with angled scopes of 30 degree and 45 degree and if any disease is located it can be removed through the transcanal approach with angled instruments and aditus patency can be confirmed by visual inspection. Hence, decreasing the need of unnecessary bone drilling as done with cortical mastoidectomy to create a parallel view.The endoscopic ear surgeries done with "dual hand endo-holder" were uneventful and much more comfortable as compared to the single hand technique. Functional approach by minimizing bone drilling, reestablishment of ventilation pathways and preservation of ossicles with disease clearance give better postoperative results in long term follow-up.