Can use of a cold light source in endoscopic middle ear surgery cause sensorineural hearing loss?

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate possible sensorineural hearing loss created by the use of a cold light source in patients undergoing endoscopic tympanoplasty surgery. Materials and Methods: the medical records of 203 patients, who underwent endoscopic Type 1 tympanoplasty surgery in our ear, nose, and throat clinic between 2012 and 2015, were checked retrospectively. Ninety-one patients were male and 112 were female, and their mean age was 34.4 +/- 11.2 years. Results of audiometric measurements performed during the preoperative period and repeated 1 and 3 months postsurgery were compared to each other. Results: the mean duration of the operations was determined to be 52.4 +/- 9.1 min. in addition, average preoperative bone-conduction was 11.4 +/- 7.4 dB nHL. However, it was 9.57 +/- 7.1 dB nHL and 9.51 +/- 7.4 dB nHL, respectively, in the 1st and 3rd postoperative months. Levels of postoperative average bone-conduction at the 1st and 3rd month, as well as the thresholds of bone-conduction at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz, were significantly lower than the preoperative results (P < 0.05). However, there was not a remarkable difference at 4000 Hz (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Based on our findings, the increased heat generated by the use of a cold light source during an endoscopic tympanoplasty surgery is unlikely to cause the development of sensorineural hearing loss.