Latex biomembrane: a new method to coat the open cavity in tympanomastoidectomies.
The new cavity created after an open cavity tympanomastoidectomy (OCTM) is filled with an antibiotic impregnated cotton pack (cotton tape, umbilical tape, gauze). The removal of this pack usually causes some bleeding and discomfort for the patient. We propose the use of a latex biomembrane to cover the cavity, which will act as an interface between the raw bone surface and the packing.


METHODS
clinical prospective.


OBJECTIVE
To study the performance of the latex biomembrane as an interface between the raw bone surface and the pack, and to analyze its role in cavity epithelization.


METHODS
64 ears of patients submitted to OCTM were studied. The biomembrane was used in the packing of 54 ears and in the 10 remaining ears the regular cotton tape packing was used.


RESULTS
In the majority of the cases where the biomembrane was used the packing was removed much easier with no bleeding or pain for the patient and also showed an earlier cavity epithelization.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of the latex biomembrane has proven to be an effective method to cover the mastoid cavity facilitating epithelization and removal of mastoid cavity packing.
Department of Surgery, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo. lcarlos@clinicapaparella.com.br
Luiz Carlos
LC
Alves de Sousa
Marcelo
M
Ribeiro de Toledo Piza
Joaquim
J
Coutinho-Netto
Danielle Barbosa
DB
Ruiz
Viviane Bom
VB
Schmidt
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000601:surgery*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007840:Latex; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000379:methods*
D007840:Latex; D008567:Membranes, Artificial