title: Radiofrequency myringotomy with the topical use of mitomycin C: an experimental study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the use of radiofrequency myringotomy in combination with mitomycin C as an alternative myringotomy technique on rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental animal research protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  University of Crete, School of Medicine, Medical Experimental Education and Research Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Radiofrequency myringotomies were performed under general anesthesia on both ears of 20 rabbits. Mitomycin C (0.3 mg/ml) pledgets were applied in the right ears (study group) and saline pledgets in the left ears (control group). Animals were monitored using otomicroscopy weekly until myringotomy closure. Kaplan-Meier survival techniques were used to compare myringotomy patency time between the two sides.
  
  
  METHODS
  Radiofrequency myringotomy under general anesthesia on both ears of 20 rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Myringotomy patency time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean patency time of the study group was 5.45 weeks (95% confidence interval, 5.185-5.715 weeks). The mean patency rate for the control side was 1.60 weeks (95% confidence interval, 1.38-1.82 weeks). The Breslow (generalized Wilcoxon) test showed the study group to have significantly longer patency of radiofrequency myringotomy than the control group (p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patency period of radiofrequency myringotomy was not long enough to be proposed as an alternative to the insertion of ventilation tubes, although mitomycin C had a significant adjunct effect in prolonging the patency rate of radiofrequency myringotomy on rabbits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Crete, School of Medicine, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassilios A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Lachanas
authors.forename: Emmanuel P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Prokopakis
authors.forename: Stylianos G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Malandrakis
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hajiioannou
authors.forename: Panayotis N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Christodoulou
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Velegrakis
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000628:therapy*; D011817:Rabbits; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D016685:Mitomycin