Endoscopic tympanoplasty in the treatment of chronic otitis media: our experience.

CONCLUSION: The endoscopy ensures good surgical exposure of hidden areas, frequently sites of residual cholesteatoma. Also, the minimally invasive endoscopic approach is more respectful of anatomy and functionality of the middle ear, restoring and preserving mastoid mucosa, with faster healing time. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the benefits that the systematic use of endoscopy in middle ear surgery has made. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort studies. METHOD: Two groups of patients were surgically treated for inflammatory diseases of the middle ear. The first group refers to the Pre-Endoscopic period, the second one to the Endoscopic Period. This study analyzed the type of surgical approach (Transcanalar vs Retroauricolar) in all cases treated and the differences in incidence of residual disease in the cases treated for cholesteatoma. RESULTS: The oto-endoscopy led to a significant increase (p < .01) of the transcanalar approach and to a significant reduction (p < .05) of residual cholesteatoma at the second look surgery.