title: Gastroesophageal reflux disease and tympanoplasty surgical outcome: is there a relationship?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the possible clinical relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and the type one tympanoplasty surgical outcomes of adults with chronic otitis media, by using a simple, cost-effective, reliable questionnaire and physical findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two of 147 patients undergoing type one tympanoplasty were studied. Gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms were evaluated using the Frequency Scale for the Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease questionnaire. Laryngoscopic physical findings of laryngopharyngeal reflux were evaluated using the Reflux Finding Score. A successful outcome was defined as an intact tympanic membrane. Correlations between the two assessment tool results and the patient's surgical success were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire score was significantly higher in patients with unsuccessful tympanic membrane closure (group one) than in patients with successful closure (group two) (p < 0.05). The Reflux Finding Score was also significantly higher in group one than group two (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive relationship between the gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire score and the Reflux Finding Score (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gastroesophageal reflux disease may be a significant prognostic factor for tympanoplasty failure. Therefore, reflux investigation may be important during the treatment of chronic otitis media, and positive cases may need reflux treatment as well as ear disease treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Haydarpasa Numune Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. tulayhabesoglu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Habesoglu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Habesoglu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kalaycik
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Surmeli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Egeli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult