US EPA

1762389 

Journal Article 

A Study of Closure of Tympanic Membrane Perforations by Chemical Cauterisation 

Santhi, T; Rajan, KV 

2012 

Yes 

Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery
ISSN: 0019-5421
EISSN: 0973-7707 

64 

4 

389-392 

English 

24294587 

10.1007/s12070-011-0425-1 

WOS:000310082800020 

To study the effectiveness of chemical cautery with patching
on chronic tympanic membrane perforations of the pars tensa. Thirty-eight patients with dry
tympanic membrane perforations due to inflammatory or traumatic etiology were selected after
treating the primary etiological factors like septal deviation and allergic rhinitis. Fifty
percentage silver nitrate was used to cauterize the margin and the perforation was covered with
thin sterile aluminium foil as a patch. A maximum number of five applications were made, and the
patients were followed up for the next 5 years. In this series of 38 patients, highest success
was noted among those patients with traumatic perforation, while larger perforations were reduced
to small pinhole sizes which were successfully closed by myringoplasty. An overall success rate
of 73.75% was achieved. This is a time tested useful method which was popularized by Derlacki
(1953), to close small to moderate sized tympanic membrane perforation and should be considered
as a first line management in the treatment of tympanic membrane perforation prior to any
surgical intervention. Apart from being a simple and economical mode of treatment, it is
associated with minimal complications. Though various materials have been used to modify this
technique, the principle remains the same and the results obtained in this study is comparable
with the previous ones. 

Tympanic membrane perforation; Chemical cautery; Silver nitrate; Patch technique