title: Does flying after myringoplasty affect graft take rates?
abstract: Flying at altitude soon after myringoplasty may theoretically have an adverse effect on graft take rates owing to variation in external air pressure, together with suboptimal Eustachian tube function, causing graft displacement. We wished to assess the effect of flying after myringoplasty by comparing success rates of patients flying within a week postoperatively (n = 37) with a control group (n = 37) by carrying out a retrospective, controlled cohort study. The primary outcome measure was graft success, defined as a 100% closure at first outpatient follow-up (2.5 months). Our results showed that there was no difference in early graft success rates between the flying group (32/37: 86%) and non-flying group (29/37: 78%)(P = 0.32; 95% CI of difference: -9% to 27%). In conclusion, flying at altitude in a pressurized environment within a week of myringoplasty does not adversely affect early operative success.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, UK. pjassar@yahoo.com.uk
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jassar
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Homer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ram
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000399:Air Pressure; D000531:Altitude; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009225:Myringoplasty; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014195:Travel