Tilman Keck1, Harald Bürner, Gerhard Rettinger. 1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Ulm, Frauensteige 12, 89075 Ulm, Germany. tilman.keck@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the application of the emitting erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser in stapedotomy has negative effects on vestibular and cochlear functions. DESIGN: Prospective, with 12 to 14 months follow-up. SETTING: Academic tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Twenty-four patients undergoing stapedotomy (primary surgery) in otosclerosis. INTERVENTION: All patients underwent Er:YAG laser-assisted stapedotomy for otosclerosis between January 2000 and June 2002. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Early (1-3 days after surgery) and late (12-14 months after surgery) postoperative bone-conduction thresholds and the presence of post-operative tinnitus and vertigo were analyzed. In addition, the relation between applied laser energy and postoperative bone-conduction thresholds was calculated. RESULTS: In 22 patients, unchanged preoperative minus early postoperative pure-tone bone-conduction averages at 1, 2, and 4 kHz were observed. In one patient, a slight early deterioration between 10 and 20 dB was seen. In 18 patients, unchanged preoperative minus late postoperative pure-tone bone-conduction averages at 1, 2, and 4 kHz were observed. In two patients, a slight late deterioration between 10 and 20 dB was seen. In two patients, a new postoperative tinnitus was observed. No patient suffered from vertigo at the time of second evaluation. No correlation between applied laser energy and both postoperative bone-conduction thresholds was found. CONCLUSIONS: The Er:YAG laser stapedotomy in otosclerosis is a safe technique. Vestibular and cochlear function is not significantly disturbed after Er:YAG laser stapedotomy.
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the application of the emitting erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser in stapedotomy has negative effects on vestibular and cochlear functions. DESIGN: Prospective, with 12 to 14 months follow-up. SETTING: Academic tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Twenty-four patients undergoing stapedotomy (primary surgery) in otosclerosis. INTERVENTION: All patients underwent Er:YAG laser-assisted stapedotomy for otosclerosis between January 2000 and June 2002. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Early (1-3 days after surgery) and late (12-14 months after surgery) postoperative bone-conduction thresholds and the presence of post-operative tinnitus and vertigo were analyzed. In addition, the relation between applied laser energy and postoperative bone-conduction thresholds was calculated. RESULTS: In 22 patients, unchanged preoperative minus early postoperative pure-tone bone-conduction averages at 1, 2, and 4 kHz were observed. In one patient, a slight early deterioration between 10 and 20 dB was seen. In 18 patients, unchanged preoperative minus late postoperative pure-tone bone-conduction averages at 1, 2, and 4 kHz were observed. In two patients, a slight late deterioration between 10 and 20 dB was seen. In two patients, a new postoperative tinnitus was observed. No patient suffered from vertigo at the time of second evaluation. No correlation between applied laser energy and both postoperative bone-conduction thresholds was found. CONCLUSIONS: The Er:YAG laser stapedotomy in otosclerosis is a safe technique. Vestibular and cochlear function is not significantly disturbed after Er:YAG laser stapedotomy.
Authors: Katarzyna Błochowiak; Piotr Andrysiak; Krzysztof Sidorowicz; Henryk Witmanowski; Wiesław Hędzelek; Jerzy Sokalski Journal: Postepy Dermatol Alergol Date: 2015-10-29 Impact factor: 1.837