Endoscopic tympanoplasty in patients with attic retraction pockets

Objectives: Patients undergoing endoscopic middle ear surgery require reconstruction procedures that are able to give adequate functional results, with particular attention to ventilation of middle ear routes and mastoid tissue preservation. Study Design: Outcome research on a prospective case series in a tertiary university referral center. Methods: A case series of 27 patients with attic retraction pockets underwent endoscopic middle ear surgical procedures. Three kinds of tympanoplasty were selected and performed. Results: In all 27 subjects, it was possible to preserve the mastoid bone and the epitympanic-mastoid mucosa by performing a transcanal endoscopic approach. In total, 21 of 27 (77.7%) subjects presented no recurrence of the disease at 20.1 months mean follow-up. Conclusions: Three main types of endoscopic tympanoplasty can be performed for surgical treatment of attic retraction pockets, preserving as much as possible the ventilation routes, physiology, and anatomy of the middle ear. © 2010 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.