The use of a rigid nasal endoscope in children--with special interest in the middle meatus.

Forty children (1-12 years) underwent under general anesthesia a nasal endoscopy, prior or after adeno(tonsillec)tomy and/or the insertion of ear grommets. The endoscopy was mainly performed with a rigid pediatric endoscope (Wolf Company panoview 25 degrees angle; phi 2.7 mm). All data were recorded on video. Special interest was taken in examining the middle meatus. The authors evaluated the presence of septal deviations, the type and presence of secretions in the nasal cavity or middle meatus, the shape of the inferior and middle turbinate as well as the aspect of the ethmoidal bulla and uncinate process. Anatomical findings are discussed for different age groups.