Effect of the diameter of tympanostomy with CO₂ laser on secretory otitis media after radiotherapy

Abstract

Objective:To investigate the postoperative effect of different diameters of CO₂ laser tympanostomy in the treatment of secretory otitis media caused by radiotherapy in patients with head and neck tumor, and to find out the best diameter range of tympanostomy according to the curative effect. Methods:The 40 ears after radiotherapy in the otorhinolaryngology department. The average 40 ears were divided into two groups: the diameter of perforation ≤3 mm and the diameter of perforation > 3 mm. Each group was 20 ears. Both groups were compared with tympanum and pure tone threshold after perforation, and then performed pure tone threshold measurement, tympanoplasty, and otoendoscopy 1,3,6 month after operation respectively. Meanwhile, patients were asked to assist in filling in the score scale of eustachian tube dysfunction（ETDQ-7）, to understand the difference in clinical symptoms and to count the complications after the operation. The changes of the size of the holes were compared with the corresponding attractors during the follow-up. Results:①After the operation, the mean value of pure tone hearing threshold air bone conduction difference in the diameter of perforation ≤3 mm group was significantly lower than that in the diameter of perforation >3 mm group （P<0.05）, indicating that the postoperative hearing recovery in the diameter of perforation ≤3 mm group was better than that in the diameter of perforation >3 mm group. ②Within six months after the operation, the tympanic membrane in the group a healed more than that in the diameter of perforation >3 mm group（P< 0.01）; in patients with an unclosed tympanic membrane in the diameter of perforation ≤3 mm group and the diameter of perforation >3 mm group, the number of smaller tympanic membrane diameter in the diameter of perforation ≤3 mm group was more than that in the diameter of perforation >3 mm group（P< 0.01）. ③The effective rates of the diameter of perforation≤3 mm group and the diameter of perforation>3 mm group were 75% and 35%, respectively. ④The incidence of postoperative complications such as middle ear infection and tympanic membrane nonunion in the diameter of perforation ≤3 mm group and the diameter of perforation>3 mm group were 25% and 45%, respectively, the incidence of postoperative complications in the diameter of perforation ≤3 mm group was significantly lower than that in the diameter of perforation>3 mm group（P<0.05）. ⑤The subjective feelings of patients in the diameter of perforation ≤3 mm group was significantly improved after the operation（P<0.01）. Compared with the postoperative questionnaire, the scores of Eustachian tube dysfunction score in the the diameter of perforation ≤3 mm groups after treatment were significantly better than the diameter of perforation>3 mm group（P<0.01）. Conclusion:According to this experimental study, in the range of 2-4 mm, 2.5 mm ≤ diameter ≤ 3.0 mm, the postoperative effect is better.