The Challenge and Opportunity of New Technology in Otolaryngology

The Challenge and Opportunity of New Technology in Otolaryngology

Head and neck surgery is changing rapidly. There are multiple new technologies and techniques being introduced and made available to practitioners seemly almost on a daily basis. Within the relatively recent past, just recall the introduction of sleep surgery and associated devices, functional endoscopic sinus surgery, lasers and more recently the beginnings of robotic surgery. There seems to be a constant, if not increasing, flow of new devices. This cornucopia of new information and tools has to be regarded as both a blessing and a potential threat to our patient’s well being.