Alternative indications for laser-assisted tympanic membrane fenestration

Background and Objective: To assess the utility of the CO2 Flashscanner las er for treatment of selected middle ear diseases other than otitis media wi th effusion (OME) and acute otitis media (AOM). Study Design/Methods and Materials: A retrospective review of the records o f 144 patients treated with the OtoLAM(R) device, a Flashscanner laser, bet ween July 1, 1998, and February 29, 2000. Patients treated for AOM or OME w ere excluded. Results: Data are presented on 11 patients (17 ears). Four indications were identified: Elimination of middle ear fluid before auditory brainstem resp onse with or without otoacoustic emission testing (ABR +/- OAE), barotrauma , eustachian tube obstruction, tympanocentesis when a culture of middle ear fluid was deemed necessary. All tympanic membranes (TM) healed. Conclusion: Fenestration of the TM can be accomplished for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Laser assisted tympanic membrane fenestration see ms to be effective in the management of middle ear fluid before ABR +/- OAE , barotrauma, eustachian tube dysfunction, and for tympanocentesis. Lasers Surg. Med. 28:320-323, 2001. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.