Endoscopic ear surgery is a minimally invasive technique of performing ear surgery with the use of surgical endoscopes. Traditionally, ear surgery is performed using the operative microscope but often this requires a large incision behind the ear and the removal of a significant amount of healthy mastoid bone before reaching the area of disease to remove the disease. This leads to a disruption of the normal physiology of the mastoid bone and middle ear.
Endoscopic ear surgery approaches aim to preserve more normal tissues as the surgery begins at the site of the disease and only small amounts of bone are removed in order to visualise the disease and remove it safely. Endoscopic ear surgeries are therefore generally associated with smaller incisions, less post-operative pain, and quicker recovery. Post surgery, patients do not need a compression bandage to be placed around their heads which conventional microscopic ear surgery usually requires.
Dr Barrie Tan is experienced in endoscopic ear surgeries and has performed numerous different types of ear surgeries using the endoscopic technique. These include the following surgeries:
Dr Barrie Tan has been performing these surgeries regularly since he introduced this technique to Singapore General Hospital in 2014. He has been invited internationally and regionally to lecture on this topic and also to train surgeons in this technique. He organised the inaugural Singapore General Hospital Endoscopic Ear Surgery Instructional Course in 2017 and then again in 2018.
Apart from the benefits to the patient from the endoscopic ear surgery technique, there are also numerous benefits for the nurses and the residents in training in watching these surgeries as they afford a clearer view of the surgery compared to microscopic ear surgery.
Senior Consultant ENT Specialist
MBBS (Singapore), MMed (ENT) (Singapore)
MRCS (Edinburgh, UK), FAMS (Otolaryngology)
Dr Barrie Tan is a dedicated ENT specialist with over 20 years of experience and a keen focus on hearing loss and cochlear implants, among others. Prior to setting up his own practice, Dr Tan was the Head of the ENT Department at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) – the largest ENT department in Singapore – as well as the Director of the Centre for Hearing and Ear Implants at SGH.
Dr Tan was a President’s Scholar and completed his subspeciality Fellowship in Otology, Hearing Implant, Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery at the Ear Science Institute in Australia. Today, Dr Tan remains actively involved in the ENT fraternity, holding several leadership positions and being engaged in the nurturing of the next generation of ENT surgeons. He has organized numerous ENT conferences and continues to devote his time towards meaningful volunteer work and medical missions.
