title: A study of the intra-operative effect of the Argon and KTP laser in stapes surgery.
abstract: The intraoperative effect of the Argon and KTP laser was studied on 20 patients who had primary stapes surgery under local anaesthetic; 10 had Argon and 10 had KTP laser stapedotomy. Symptoms of inner ear disturbance such as dizziness and tinnitus were systematically recorded during the laser procedure. Both dizziness and tinnitus were relatively uncommon when the laser was used on the promontory. When the laser was used to transect the posterior crus, all the patients reported transient dizziness, probably from the thermal effect through the posterior crus into the inner ear. However, tinnitus was unusual during this stage. When the laser was used to fenestrate the footplate, only 30% of patients reported a transient dizziness as less laser energy was used. On the other hand, 55% of the patients experienced tinnitus during this stage, which indicates an acoustic effect on the inner ear. There is no difference between the Argon and KTP laser.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, Ipswich, Suffolk, UK. yung@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Yung
mesh_terms: D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D004244:Dizziness / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013201:Stapes Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology