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Alternative indications for laser‐assisted tympanic membrane fenestration
Author(s) -
Cook Steven P.,
Deutsch Ellen S.,
Reilly James S.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.1056
Subject(s) - eustachian tube , medicine , middle ear , tympanometry , otitis , fenestration , effusion , myringotomy , surgery , tympan , tympanum (architecture) , audiology , hearing loss , audiometry
Background and Objective To assess the utility of the CO 2 Flashscanner laser for treatment of selected middle ear diseases other than otitis media with effusion (OME) and acute otitis media (AOM). Study Design/Materials and Methods A retrospective review of the records of 144 patients treated with the OtoLAM ® device, a Flashscanner laser, between July 1, 1998, and February 29, 2000. Patients treated for AOM or OME were excluded. Results Data are presented on 11 patients (17 ears). Four indications were identified: Elimination of middle ear fluid before auditory brainstem response with or without otoacoustic emission testing (ABR ± OAE), barotrauma, eustachian tube obstruction, tympanocentesis when a culture of middle ear fluid was deemed necessary. All tympanic membranes (TM) healed. Conclusions Fenestration of the TM can be accomplished for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Laser assisted tympanic membrane fenestration seems to be effective in the management of middle ear fluid before ABR ± OAE, barotrauma, eustachian tube dysfunction, and for tympanocentesis. Lasers Surg. Med. 28:320–323, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.