Epitympanic Diaphragm: Endoscopic Functional Tympanoplasty

Abstract

Abstract Background Simple closure of tympanic membrane perforation is not a successful myringoplasty. It has to obey a lot of functional aspects of the middle ear cleft. Certain factors play a role in failure cases. The endoscopic functional myringoplasty or tympanoplasty is a clear visualization of all the parts of the middle ear; examination and removal of the disease from the hidden parts of the middle ear, examination of inter-attico-tympanic diaphragm; and removal of blocks, if any, in isthmus, to reestablish the gas exchange pathways and finally preserve the middle ear mucosa at maximum to further restore the ventilation. Methods Endoscopic tympanoplasty was performed in 100 patients with large tympanic membrane perforations and patent eustachian tube, using 4-mm “0” and “45” degree endoscopes by proper visualization of the tympanic diaphragm and isthmus in every patient and clearing its blockage if present. Results Among the 100 patients, 78 had epitympanic diaphragm blockage at the level of isthmus, 5 patients were found with closed tensor tympani folds, both vertical and horizontal without any ventilatory routes in them. Although in all the patients the eustachian tube was patent, we found majority of them had a dysventilation at the level of the epitympanic diaphragm. Thus, by performing endoscopic ventilatory pathway clearance and tympanoplasty, we achieved 94% positive results. Conclusion Epitympanic diaphragm is a functional barrier between upper and lower compartments of the middle ear cleft, which play important role in the ventilation and partial pressure regulation, blockage of its isthmus may lead to tympanic membrane retractions and perforations. With the aid of endoscopes of various degrees, removing any pathological blocks, recreating proper ventilation, reestablishing gas exchange mechanism, and maximum preservation of normal mucosa for the gas exchange are the aims of an endoscopic functional tympanoplasty procedure.