Anti-adhesive properties of polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex) in middle ear surgery. An experimental study.
CONCLUSIONS
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) may represent a material that prevents adhesions when implanted in the middle ear. This characteristic can be used to improve the design of prostheses.


OBJECTIVE
Prostheses in the middle ear have a relatively high failure rate due to extrusion, deformation and adhesion. Adhesion of prostheses to the walls of the tympanic cavity is the commonest cause of long-term hearing loss. The anti-adhesive properties of PTFE have been previously studied in abdominal and vascular surgery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work in which the properties of PTFE have been studied in the context of middle ear pathology.


METHODS
In order to induce otitis media with effusion, 27 Wistar rats underwent a technique based on permanent cauterization of the pharyngeal Eustachian tube. PTFE was subsequently implanted in the middle ear. Rats that underwent cauterization without implantation and cauterization with implantation of hydroxyapatite and Plastipore were included as controls.


RESULTS
Histopathological study of the tympanic bullae at 15 and 90 days after implantation demonstrated good biocompatibility of the PTFE implant under the analyzed conditions, with formation of a capsule around the material and no adhesions between the ear tissues and the prosthesis.
Vicente
Javier
J
Grupo de Investigación Otológica, Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. jvicenteh@seorl.net
Ramírez-Camacho
Rafael
R
Trinidad
Almudena
A
Ramón García-Berrocal
José
J
Lobo
David
D
Pinilla
Maite
M
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D009998:Ossicular Prosthesis; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000473:pathology; D038781:Otoscopy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000517:prevention & control
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers; C010946:polytetrafluoroethane