title: The effects of radiofrequency and incisional myringotomy on the duration of patency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated whether radiofrequency could prolong the patency of myringotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen guinea pigs were enrolled in this study. Myringotomies were created by radiofrequency in the right ears in the study group using the ENTec coblator plasma surgery system, while the left ears had incisional myringotomies as the control group. After myringotomies, the tympanic membranes were examined with otomicroscopy on the 5th, 7th, 10th, and 14th days. Closure times of the two groups were compared by the Mann-Whitney U-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the myringotomies were closed up to the tenth postoperative day. There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to closure times.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiofrequency is a safe and minimally destructive method to perform a myringotomy, but it does not provide long-time patency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. memedeken@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eken
authors.forename: Cenk
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Evren
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanli
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paksoy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000379:methods*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing