2026 Poster Presentations
P360: COLIBRI MICRO-ENT SCOPE FOR ENHANCED VISUALIZATION DURING MICROVASCULAR DECOMPRESSION: INITIAL CASE SERIES
Hannah K Weiss; Kristen Marciniuk; Chandra Sen; Erez Nossek; Donato Pacione; NYU Langone Health
Introduction: Endoscopic techniques have been increasingly applied to microvascular decompression (MVD) to improve visualization of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) and neurovascular conflicts. The Colibri micro-ENT scope, initially developed for otologic surgery, has not previously been described in neurosurgical applications.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 6 patients undergoing MVD (trigeminal neuralgia n=2, hemifacial spasm n=4; mean age 48 years) between 2024–2025 in which the Colibri scope was employed as an adjunct to standard microscopy. We assessed visualization quality, ability to identify offending vessels, ergonomic features, operative time, and perioperative outcomes.
Results: The Colibri scope provided enhanced close-up visualization of the trigeminal and facial nerve root entry zones (Figure 1 and 2). In all cases, endoscopic inspection identified additional vascular conflicts not apparent microscopically (Figure 3 and 4). No complications attributable to endoscope use occurred. Surgeons noted advantages of the lightweight ergonomic design and ease of ability to adjust viewing angle. Operative times were comparable to standard MVD. At short-term follow-up (mean 3.1 months), all patients experienced symptom improvement.
Conclusion: This is the first reported series of MVD using the Colibri scope. Its design features may confer ergonomic and visualization advantages compared to conventional rigid endoscopes. Further comparative studies are warranted to define its role in endoscope-assisted neurosurgery.
