title: Laser-assisted myringotomy for otitis media: a feasibility study with short-term followup.
abstract: Intermediate-duration middle ear ventilation appears to be a good treatment option for selected children with otitis media. Laser-assisted myringotomy is one way to provide such ventilation. It can provide prompt pain relief and resolution of middle ear effusion and effusion-related hearing loss, and it can provide an opportunity for surveillance of antibiotic-resistant organisms. We performed laser-assisted myringotomy on 97 ears of 54 children over a 5-month period. All children had acute or recurrent otitis media or persistent middle ear effusions. Our experience suggests that laser-assisted myringotomy is a feasible treatment option for selected patients. Practitioner experience and patient and family considerations will contribute to the decision whether to use general or topical anesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Del 19899, USA.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Deutsch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000379:methods*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000601:surgery*