Training and Education in Endoscopic Ear Surgery

With rising global interest in minimally invasive surgical approaches and the cumulative advances in technology, there is a growing population of otolaryngologists incorporating endoscopic ear surgery into clinical practice and residency training. To date, limited data are available on the learning curve and training process involved in this technique. While the endoscopic approach to the ear has several advantages, it carries also unique challenges and risks that one should be aware of as they impact endoscopic skill acquisition. The current practices in endoscopic ear surgery training involve sharing of technical pearls and a graded step-by-step approach to endoscopic skill development through clinical practice and hands-on courses. In the academic environment, the endoscopic approach carries several advantages for the trainees—through improvement in teaching and the relative ease of the technique as compared to the traditional microscopic approach. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York.