Tympanic membrane healing in myringotomies performed with argon laser or microknife: an experimental study in rats

Secretory otitis media (SOM) and recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) may require surgical treatment to proper ventilate the middle ear. Incisional myringotomy is usually done under microscopy with a micro-knife, but it remains patent for just a few days. Recent research indicates that laser assisted myringotomies remain open much longer, allowing middle ear ventilation and healing. Material and methods: In this experimental study 34 white, male, adult, Wistar rats, without middle ear disease were submited to anesthesia with ketamine 27 mg/kg and xylazine 2,7 mg/kg. Incisional myringotomy was done on the right ear, while laser myringotomy was done on the left. Myringotomies were evaluated periodically until healing. Results: The healing times were equivalent. All myringotomies healed within 10 days. Conclusion: Argon laser assisted myringotomy healed just as early on as incisional myringotomy on Wistar rats without middle ear diseases.