Tympanic membrane healing in myringotomies performed with argon laser or microknife: an experimental study in rats.
Secretory otitis media (SOM) and recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) may require surgical treatment to proper ventilate the middle ear. Incisional myringotomy is usually done under microscopy with a micro-knife, but it remains patent for just a few days. Recent research indicates that laser assisted myringotomies remain open much longer, allowing middle ear ventilation and healing.


METHODS
In this experimental study 34 white, male, adult, Wistar rats, without middle ear disease were submitted to anesthesia with ketamine 27 mg/kg and xylazine 2,7 mg/kg. Incisional myringotomy was done on the right ear, while laser myringotomy was done on the left. Myringotomies were evaluated periodically until healing.


RESULTS
The healing times were equivalent. All myringotomies healed within 10 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Argon laser assisted myringotomy healed just as early on as incisional myringotomy on Wistar rats without middle ear diseases.
Castagno
Lucio Almeida
LA
Departamento de Oftalmologia e Otorrinolaringologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, RS.
Lavinksy
Luiz
L
D000818:Animals; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000379:methods*; D023421:Models, Animal; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing