( Laser – Assisted – Tympanostomy ( L. A. T

Abstract

Myringotomy using C02 laser has been described by many authors for treatment of otitis media with effusion, and Eustachian tube dysfunction aiming to ' create a tympanostomy that will remain open for several weeks without inserting a ventilation tube. This study includes two part: an experimental part deals with healing of the tympanic membrane after 24 laser tympanostomies in guinea pigs, and a clinical part that deals with laser tympanostomies in 41 cases (67 ears); under general or local anesthe ia, 1-4mm laser tympanostomies were done using either focused or defocused techniques patients were followed up clinically and by auditory tests for 6 months after closure of the tympanostomies.

Healing was perfect in all cases with overall cure rate of 97% and no major complications, the time needed for laser tympanostomy to heal depended mainly on its size and to less extent on age of the patient and the used technique ,it was concluded that laser assisted tympanostomy (L.A.T) is a well controlled, safe, cost effective procedure that can easily be performed as an office procedure when blood less opening in the tympanic membrane is needed.