Effect of Laser Uvulopalatoplasty on Middle Ear Function

• Published in: The Laryngoscope Vol. 109; no. 12; pp. 1947 - 1949
• Main Authors: Marais, Joe, Armstrong, Michael W.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, NJ John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-12-1999; Wiley-Blackwell
• Subjects: Acoustic Impedance Tests; Adult; Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Biological and medical sciences; Ear, Middle - physiopathology; Eustachian Tube - physiopathology; eustachian tube dysfunction; Female; Head and neck surgery. Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Humans; Laser Therapy; Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty; Male; Medical sciences; middle ear pressure; middle ear volume; Palate, Soft - physiopathology; Palate, Soft - surgery; Postoperative Complications - physiopathology; Sleep Apnea Syndromes - physiopathology; Sleep Apnea Syndromes - surgery; Snoring - physiopathology; Snoring - surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the upper aerodigestive tract; Uvula - physiopathology; Uvula - surgery; Human; Uvulopalatoplasty; Pressure; Snoring; Treatment; Volume; Surgery; Laser; ENT disease; Complication; Technique; Middle ear; Comparative study; Eustachian tube
• ISSN: 0023-852X; 1531-4995
• DOI: 10.1097/00005537-199912000-00009

Objectives: Palatal musculature is known to be responsible for the active opening of the eustachian (auditory) tube. Because laser‐assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) may involve partial division of these muscles, the effect of this procedure on middle ear pressures (MEPs) and middle ear volumes (MEVs) was investigated.
Study Design: A controlled interventional trial with one limb receiving treatment and the other none. Preoperative and postoperative measurements were carried out in both groups.
Methods: A control group of 15 normal volunteers and a study group of 22 patients undergoing LAUP all of whom had normal ears and type A tympanograms before the trial were recruited. Repeat tympanometry was carried out after 3 months in both groups. The results of MEP and MEV were recorded for both groups and analyzed by the Mann‐Whitney U test.
Results: A trend toward reduced MEP and MEV was noted in the LAUP group, but did not achieve statistical significance. A study with more patients may achieve significance.
Conclusions: No significant effects on middle ear pressures or volumes 3 months after LAUP were demonstrated. A much larger study may, however, arrive at a statistically significant result and further work is warranted. Relevant palatal and tubal anatomy is discussed and a brief review of the relevant literature is given.