Bayoumy A B, Veugen C C A F M, van Rijssen L B, Bok J W M, Borgstein J
Faculty of Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
J Otol. 2021 Apr;16(2):120-122. doi: 10.1016/j.joto.2020.12.003. Epub 2020 Dec 19.
The interest for telemedicine has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic because of the risk of infection. Recently, commercial companies started selling digital USB-otoscopes (DUO) that can be connected to a mobile phone. These DUOs are inexpensive (costing approximately $6-35 each) and make it possible to visualize the whole tympanic membrane. Here, we illustrate the case of a patient who had operative correction of a tympanic membrane retraction, and who self-monitored the tympanic membrane in the course of time. Additionally, we discuss the use of DUOs in otolaryngology telemedicine practice. The use of simple digital USB otoscopes provides a promising method to assess and monitor the tympanic membrane remotely. However, more research is needed to establish the role of DUOs in telemedicine.
自新冠疫情以来，由于存在感染风险，人们对远程医疗的兴趣有所增加。最近，商业公司开始销售可连接手机的数字USB耳镜（DUO）。这些DUO价格低廉（每个约6 - 35美元），能够可视化整个鼓膜。在此，我们举例说明一位接受鼓膜内陷手术矫正的患者，其在术后一段时间内自行监测鼓膜的情况。此外，我们还讨论了DUO在耳鼻咽喉科远程医疗实践中的应用。使用简单的数字USB耳镜为远程评估和监测鼓膜提供了一种有前景的方法。然而，还需要更多研究来确定DUO在远程医疗中的作用。
