Endoscopic Tympanoplasty as an Alternative to Microscopic Tympanoplasty: A Comparative Study on Surgical Outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Background: Chronic otitis media treatment has evolved, with microscopic surgeries as the gold standard and endoscopic surgeries as a newer addition. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study includes 209 patients who underwent type 1 tympanoplasty, utilizing both endoscopic and microscopic techniques, between January 2019 and December 2022 at a tertiary care institute in India. The study aims to compare hearing outcomes, graft uptake, hospital stay, postoperative pain, and cosmesis between the two groups. Results: Mean AB gap closure was 17.09 + 5.98 dB in the endoscopic group and 16.74 + 5.05 dB in the microscopic group (P = 0.687). The duration of surgery was 79.26 ± 17.37 min in the Endoscopic group and 91.92 ± 15.35 min in the Microscopic group. (P = < 0.00001). The Endoscopic group experienced less post-operative pain, shorter hospital stay (P = < 0.00001, P = 0.0008), and exhibited better cosmetic outcomes (P = 0.00001) compared to the microscopic group. Conclusion: Endoscopic tympanoplasty is a better alternative to microscopic tympanoplasty, delivering comparable hearing outcomes, shorter surgical duration, improved pain scores, and better cosmesis. Key Message: Chronic otitis media is a cause of significant morbidity and hearing loss, especially in developing countries like India. The treatment options have evolved, with microscopic surgeries being the standard and endoscopic surgeries as a newer addition. The study included 209 patients over 4 years and compared hearing outcomes, graft uptake, postoperative pain, cosmesis, and hospital stay duration between endoscopic and microscopic tympanoplasty. Results showed similar AB gap closure and successful graft uptake in both groups, indicating comparable hearing outcomes. Endoscopic tympanoplasty had a significantly shorter duration of surgery, lower postoperative pain scores, and better cosmesis compared to microscopic tympanoplasty. Endoscopic tympanoplasty offers a better alternative with similar hearing outcomes, improved patient comfort, shorter hospital stay, and better cosmetic outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]