Effect of argon laser stapedotomy on cochlear potentials. II. Alteration of the compound action potential (CAP)

The influence of the argon laser on inner-ear function during and after laser stapedotomy was investigated in guinea pigs, using the compound action potential (CAP) as parameter. With the onset of the argon laser impact, the CAP is depressed or even extinguished up to 10 s. The temporal course of subsequent CAP recovery is similar to that of endocochlear temperature recovery after laser stapedotomy, so that a direct influence of temperature increase and CAP decrease is probable. No permanent attenuation of CAP amplitude was found after a single laser perforation of the stapes footplate.