Iontophoretic anaesthesia of the tympanic membrane.

Anaesthesia of the tympanic membrane by iontophoresis of lidocaine is a painless and safe method for myringotomy and grommet insertion. Thirty-nine patients with serous otitis media and 11 patients with Ménière's disease had their tympanic membranes anaesthetized by iontophoresis of lidocaine; analgesia was perfect for all of them. In the patients with serous otitis media, the insertion of grommets was carried out easily and without pain. Major problems or complications have not been encountered during this study.