Alternative indications for laser-assisted tympanic membrane fenestration.
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).


METHODS
A retrospective review of the records of 144 patients treated with the OtoLAM((R)) 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.
Cook
S P
SP
Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware 19899, USA. scook@nemours.org
Deutsch
E S
ES
Reilly
J S
JS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001469:Barotrauma / Q000601:surgery; D004322:Drainage; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies