Histopathology of thermal effects in endoscopic ear surgery: An experimental animal study.

Objective: The potential risk of thermal damage in the transcanal endoscopic ear surgery has been a concerning issue. This study aimed to investigate the histopathological effects of heat exposure of different durations in external auditory canal (EAC) skin and facial nerve tissues.

Methods: This study was conducted on 20 rabbits assigned equally to five groups according to the endoscope-transmitted heat exposure duration: Control group (no exposure), 2, 10, 15, and 30 min. At the end of the procedure, EAC skin and the tympanic segment of facial nerve tissue samples were taken surgically and histopathologically examined.

Results: Significant histopathological thermal damage findings in external auditory canal skin and facial nerve tissues were observed under endoscope-transmitted heat exposure longer than 15 and 10 min, respectively.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that prolonged exposure of the endoscope-transmitted heat can cause histopathological thermal damage in EAC skin and facial nerve on rabbit subjects.