Evaluation of a local anaesthetic biopsy service for suspected cancers at a tertiary head and neck unit: relevance to post-COVID-19 recovery of surgical services

LA biopsy including transnasal oesophagoscopy/endoscopy is safe, well tolerated and can be used to assess patients with suspected head and neck cancer. Advantages include avoiding the risks of general anaesthesia and freeing up theatre capacity for more complex cases. We estimate savings of £900,000 over 2 years. Faced with limited theatre capacity and growing waiting lists, LA biopsy can also improve time to diagnosis and treatment for head and neck malignancies. We demonstrate the benefits of LA biopsy and highlight the role of transnasal oesophagoscopy/endoscopy in the recovery of surgical services in otolaryngology departments across the world in the post-pandemic era.