Endoscopic versus microscopic approach in the treatment of atelectatic otitis media

endoscopic ear surgery in patients Chronic Otitis Media(COM) media with eardrum atelectasis.

to compare the postoperative outcomes and audiological results of the endoscopic approach versus the microscopic approach for treatment of COM media with eardrum atelectasis, using a randomized prospective model.

Sixty patients were consecutively enrolled in the study and randomized into two groups: Group A 32 patients underwent canal wall up tympanoplasty (CWA); Group B 28 patients underwent tympanoplasty with an exclusive trans-meatal endoscopic approach. Audiological results and preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were evaluated.

No statistical difference emerged between distribution of middle ear atelectasis patients grade 3 and 4 between the two surgical groups (p > 0.05). The group B appeared to have shorter surgical times than group A (69.8 min vs. 88.9 min). The graft success rate was estimated in 90.6% and 92.8% in group A and B respectively, without statistical differences between groups (p = 1). The Overall success rate was therefore calculated in 87.5% and 92.8% for both groups.

Endoscopic ear surgery could be a suitable approach for treating COM media with eardrum atelectasis with similar results compared with the Microscopic surgery.