title: Early hearing assessment after "one shot" CO2 laser stapedotomy: is it helpful to predict inner ear damage and the functional outcome?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Auditory testing is not routinely performed within 4 to 6 weeks after stapedotomy because hearing acuity is thought to be transiently depressed. The early postoperative effects of the 1-shot carbon dioxide (CO2) laser have never been reported. The purpose of this study is to present data for auditory thresholds measured within 2 days of laser stapedotomy and at the last follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was prospective and unblinded.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted at the "A. Gemelli" University Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January to December 2008, 58 subjects underwent "1-shot" CO2 laser stapedotomies for otosclerosis. Pure-tonal audiometric test was performed preoperatively 2 days after surgery and at least 1 month after surgery during the follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The closure of air-bone gap began in the early postoperative period and continued to improve through the late postoperative period. Bone-conduction hearing thresholds were stable even in the early postoperative follow-up and remained stable trough all the course of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data, supported by the literature, suggest that 1-shot CO2 laser stapedotomy is an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of otosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. bruno.sergi@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sergi
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scorpecci
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parrilla
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paludetti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D001299:Audiometry; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D001844:Bone Conduction; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D054020:Lasers, Gas; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013201:Stapes Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult