title: Effect of absorbable gelatin sponge in the middle ear: in vitro and in vivo animal model.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  GelitaSpon gelatin sponge (GS) showed faster reabsorption than gelfoam (GF) in vitro, and GS-packed middle ears resulted in a faster hearing recovery and less inflammation than the ears packed with GF soaked in saline. Soaking GF sponges with boric acid (BA) appeared to offset the inflammatory response of saline-soaked GF, making this inflammatory response comparable to that of GS-packed ears.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the reabsorption and inflammatory effects of absorbable gelatin sponge in the middle ear.
  
  
  METHODS
  For in vitro evaluation, GF and GS were used as disks immersed in saline solution or 3% BA and placed in gel. Images were captured with a microscope and processed using image processing Toolbox. For in vivo tests, 16 female albino Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups: bulla opening; GF + 0.9% saline; GF + BA; and GS + 0.9% saline. An anterior approach to the right bulla was used for surgery. Preoperative and postoperative auditory brainstem response thresholds were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vitro, there was marked degradation of GF by day 14, while GS showed complete degradation by the third day. In vivo, hearing recovery occurred by day 21. GF produced a more severe inflammatory response, which could be reduced by treating the GF with BA.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Neurophysiology Laboratory, Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV) School of Medicine, Ciudad Universitaria , Caracas.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goncalves
authors.forename: Juan Armando
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Chiossone-Kerdel
authors.forename: Andrea S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ercolino
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Rojas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001888:Boric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005781:Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable; D006490:Hemostatics; D023421:Models, Animal; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000601:surgery; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001888:Boric Acids; D006490:Hemostatics; C032688:boric acid
keywords: Absorbable gelatine; boric acid; inflammation; middle ear surgery