Laser Assisted Myringotomy and Tympanostomy

Insertion of a PET is indicated for continuous middle ear aeration in patients with chronic otitis media with effusion (OME). It is estimated that some 27 million cases of otitis media occur each year and that 1,000,000 children undergo PET insertion each year, making this procedure the most frequently performed pediatric surgery requiring anesthesia. Nevertheless, since conventional PET requires general anesthesia, it is typically not considered unless multiple courses of antibiotics fail to clear the infection and resolve the effusion. Myringotomy alone is less frequently performed. Since a conventional incision typically closes up within 1 or 2 days it cannot be used for prolonged ventilation of the middle ear. Myringotomies can be used to acutely decompress the ear and thus relieve pain. In addition, aspiration of fluid can be used for diagnostic purposes to determine whether the fluid is sterile and, if not, to assess antibiotic sensitivities.