Atypical indications for OtoScan laser-assisted myringotomy.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the role of OtoScan laser-assisted myringotomy (OtoLAM) for indications other than chronic otitis media or recurrent acute otitis media.


METHODS
Cross-sectional review.


METHODS
Twenty-seven office-based OtoLAM procedures were performed in 21 patients for "atypical" reasons. The indications included middle ear dysfunction with necessary air travel (n = 10) or hyperbaric oxygen treatment (n = 6), mastoiditis with postauricular cellulitis (n = 2), canal exostosis prohibiting tympanostomy (n = 1), acute otitis media accompanied by seizures (n = 1), and chronic middle ear effusion in a patient with hemophilia (n = 1).


RESULTS
In each of the 20 cases available for follow-up, middle ear disease resolved with closure of the laser-assisted myringotomy. At a later date, two patients (10%) underwent another OtoLAM in the opposite ear and four patients (20%) required repeat OtoLAM in the same or both ears. Three patients (15%) ultimately underwent myringotomy tube placement because of recurrent middle ear dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
Although this report contains preliminary data, the data suggest that OtoLAM may provide an additional option in the care of certain patients who have previously been treated with myringotomy tubes.
Bent
J P
JP
Department of Otolaryngology, Albert Einstein School of Medicine, New York Otolaryngology Institute, New York 10021, USA.
April
M M
MM
Ward
R F
RF
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000401:Aircraft; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000601:surgery; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000601:surgery; D005096:Exostoses / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D007223:Infant; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008417:Mastoiditis / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000601:surgery; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications; D014195:Travel; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000601:surgery*