Comparison between three techniques for videosinuscopy in cattle

ABSTRACT: Cattle have extensive paranasal sinuses that are susceptible to disease, most commonly sinusitis. The sinuscopy can be used to evaluate these structures, although there are no descriptions of this region for endoscopic anatomy, especially regarding the trocar position and the most appropriate type of endoscope. This study aimed to standardize the surgical approaches to sinuscopy in cattle by comparing the use of three endoscopes. Four accesses by trephination (one hole for each of the maxillary and frontal sinuses) were made in eight heads of slaughtered cattle. Each hole was inspected with three endoscopes: a 10mm flexible colonoscope with up to 180º of angulation, a 10mm 0° laparoscope and a 4mm 30º arthroscope. It was observed that all regions of the maxillary sinus were better visualized with the 4mm endoscope, and the structures of this sinus were less well visualized with the 10mm laparoscope. The frontal sinus was difficult to evaluate due to the tortuosity of its bony projections, and the cranial portion was not observed by the proposed accesses. The caudal regions of the frontal sinus such as the nuchal diverticulum and the back of the orbit had the greatest number of structures visualized by the 4mm endoscope, followed by the colonoscope. The comparative analysis showed that the 4mm endoscope was most efficient and could be adapted to sinuscopy in cattle.