LASER-ASSISTED TYMPANOSTOMY

Laser-assisted tympanostomy (LAT) was performed in 70 ears to ventilat e the middle ear space without using a pressure-equalizing tube, Using a CO2 laser attached to an operating microscope with a Microslad (mic roscope laser adaptor device), tympanostomies of 1.0 to 3.0 mm (averag e, 1.6 mm) in diameter were created and remained patent for an average of 3.14 weeks. Patency time was directly related to the size of the o pening. Nearly all (97.9%) of the tympanostomies healed with no notice able scarring and no persistent perforations. Seventy-eight percent of patients at the Florida Ear & Sinus Center (FESC, Sarasota, Fla.) and 84% of patients at the Head & Neck Surgery Group (New York) showed no evidence of recurrent effusion after a minimum follow-up of 3 months. LAT appears to be a safe, cost-effective procedure which can easily b e performed in an office setting when bloodless opening in the tympani c membrane is needed for either treatment or diagnosis using endoscope s.