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Tympanic membrane healing in myringotomies performed with argon laser or microknife: an experimental study in rats
Lucio Almeida Castagno1, Luiz Lavinksy
1Departamento de Oftalmologia e Otorrinolaringologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, RS.
Unlabelled:
Secretory otitis media (SOM) and recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) may require surgical treatment to proper ventilate the middle ear. Incisional myringotomy is usually done under microscopy with a micro-knife, but it remains patent for just a few days. Recent research indicates that laser assisted myringotomies remain open much longer, allowing middle ear ventilation and healing.
Material And Methods:
In this experimental study 34 white, male, adult, Wistar rats, without middle ear disease were submitted to anesthesia with ketamine 27 mg/kg and xylazine 2,7 mg/kg. Incisional myringotomy was done on the right ear, while laser myringotomy was done on the left. Myringotomies were evaluated periodically until healing.
Results:
The healing times were equivalent. All myringotomies healed within 10 days.
Conclusion:
Argon laser assisted myringotomy healed just as early on as incisional myringotomy on Wistar rats without middle ear diseases.
Insights
Laser myringotomy and traditional incisional myringotomy show similar healing times in rats. This suggests laser myringotomy may be a viable alternative for middle ear ventilation in conditions like secretory otitis media.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Surgical Innovation
- Biomedical Research
Background:
- Secretory otitis media (SOM) and recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) often necessitate surgical intervention for effective middle ear ventilation.
- Traditional incisional myringotomy provides only short-term patency, limiting its therapeutic benefit.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the healing times of laser-assisted myringotomy versus incisional myringotomy in a rodent model.
- To evaluate the potential of laser myringotomy for prolonged middle ear ventilation.
Main Methods:
- An experimental study involving 34 Wistar rats was conducted.
- Incisional myringotomy was performed on the right ear, and laser myringotomy on the left ear of each rat.
- Myringotomies were monitored periodically to assess healing duration.
Main Results:
- Both laser-assisted and incisional myringotomies demonstrated equivalent healing times.
- All myringotomies, regardless of method, healed within a 10-day period.
Conclusions:
- Argon laser-assisted myringotomy exhibits comparable healing rates to incisional myringotomy in Wistar rats.
- The findings suggest laser myringotomy is a potentially effective alternative for achieving sustained middle ear ventilation.
