Transnasal Oesophagoscopy and Advanced Applications

Transnasal oesophagoscopy (TNO) is a specialised channelled fibre-optic endoscope that allows the practitioner to perform a full endoscopic examination of the upper aerodigestive tract in an office set-up under local anaesthetic. Although not entirely new, TNO is still not widely practiced worldwide [1–3]. It is not known why TNO has not been so widely adopted, but there are suggestions that initially there were doubts on the ability to examine the post-cricoid area fully, the cost of setting up such a service, and the relevant experience required. Most recently, however, there has been a gradual increased interest in this practice possibly owing to the added features on the TNO endoscope, such as the working channel, suction and insufflation, and the length of the TNO, which has made it possible to perform both diagnostic and therapeutic examination of the entire aerodigestic tract in the office under local anaesthetic.