Stapedectomy in the guinea pig

Stapedectomy has traditionally been studied in the feline model. Ethical considerations and costs have made this model less feasible for ongoing research. The purpose of this study was to examine the guinea pig as a model for research on stapedectomy. Technical difficulties included limited exposure and small dimensions of the ossicles. The surgical technique with and without the use of a CO(2) laser and the relevant anatomy of the guinea pig middle ear are described.