CO₂ Laser Myringotomy For Treatment Of Otitis Media With Effusion

Background: Otitis media with effusion(OME) is one of the most common disease of childhood, characterized by fluid in the middle ear without signs of an acute infection.The resulting hearing impairment may lead to postponed development of language and speech.The etiology and pathogenesis of OME is still unknown and it is thought to be a multipathogenesis. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the way to apply CO₂ laser myringotomy for treatment of otitis media with effusion,the durention of perforations for transtympanic ventilation, the early and late complications, and the recurrence rate of otitis media with effusion (OME) within 3 months after CO2 laser myringotomy.Methods: In this study, laser myringotomy was performed with the CO₂ laser otoscope in a population comprising 20 patient (34 ears) with a history of otitis media with effusion (OME) associated with(without) adenoidal and sometimes tonsillar hyperplasia.The patients were examined postoperatively in the 7^th, 14^th and 21^st day. At the preoperative and postoperative examination, the tympanogram was taken.Main results: None of the patients showed postoperative impairment of cochleovestibular function such as sensorineural hearing loss or nystagmus.Two of them feel light in the head postoperatively in the operation day. None of them were found with atrophic scars, permanent perforations, ortympanosclerosis.et al within 3 months.One of them received the CO2 laser myringotomy and one received ventilation tube insertion 4 months later Conclusions: CO2 laser myringotomy is technically mature and frequently creates perforations with a single laser pulse for less operation time and less danger of operation. CO2 laser myringotomy is a safe and reliable procedure with a low complication rate.