Implications of laser assisted tympanostomy in adults.
OBJECTIVE
To assess outcome in adult individuals undergoing laser-assisted tympanostomy without ventilation tube placement.


METHODS
Case series with 2-month follow-up.


METHODS
Faculty practice, research protocol, tertiary care academic medical center.


METHODS
Laser-assisted tympanostomy was performed on a total of 142 ears (108 individuals). Indications included serous otitis media with effusion (66 ears/47 patients), functional eustachian tube dysfunction (48 ears/36 patients), acute otitis media (19 ears/16 patients), and endoscopic visualization of the middle ear (9 ears/9 patients).


METHODS
The laser-assisted tympanostomy procedure is performed with a CO2 laser under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis.


METHODS
Patency time of the tympanostomy, presence of fluid after the closure of the tympanostomy, tympanometry and tone audiometry findings, relief of symptoms.


RESULTS
Middle ear disease was resolved after the closure of tympanostomy in 47.9% of patients with serous otitis media with effusion. In 79.1% of patients with functional eustachian tube dysfunction, symptoms were diminished. All patients with acute otitis media had a satisfactory outcome. Laser-assisted tympanostomy was found to be quite helpful in patients undergoing middle ear endoscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
Laser-assisted tympanostomy without ventilation tubes provides a safe alternative surgical option in adult patients in certain cases. The selection criteria for this procedure are addressed in detail.
Prokopakis
Emmanuel P
EP
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. epro@med.uoc.gr
Lachanas
Vassilios A
VA
Christodoulou
Panayotis N
PN
Bizakis
John G
JG
Karatzanis
Alexander D
AD
Velegrakis
George A
GA
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005064:Eustachian Tube; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D038781:Otoscopy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing