Comparative study in tympanoplasties with nitrous oxide anesthesia.

A number of intra and postoperative accidents in close cavity surgery when using nitrous oxide have been reported. In order to check the influence of nitrous oxide anesthesia in tympanic surgery, 38 patients were operated on by the usual techniques in middle ear surgery. Half the patients received continuous nitrous oxide inhalation throughout the procedure while, in the remaining cases, the anesthetic gas was suspended 30 minutes before applying the tympanic graft. Audiological differences in both groups, as controlled at 6 and 12 months, were negligible.