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Biomedical subjects

Carla M Giannoni

Publications and source records attributed to Carla M Giannoni.

2 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Defining tympanostomy tube plugs.

OBJECTIVES: To define the composition of tympanostomy tube plugs because selecting or developing effective solvents depends on such knowledge. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, in vitro laboratory study. METHODS: Luminal contents of 105 plugged, microscopically removed tympanostomy tubes were expressed, pooled, acid hydrolyzed, and passed through a high-performance liquid chromatography column. Retention times were compared with high-performance liquid chromatography standards to develop free amino acid and monosaccharide profiles. Cerumen, blood, and chronic mucoid effusion (collected during myringotomy) were pooled and subjected to the same analysis. The elution profiles of each substance were compared to determine which substance most closely matched the plugs. RESULTS: High-performance liquid chromatography amino acid and monosaccharide analysis demonstrated greatest similarity between tympanostomy tube plugs and mucoid effusion. CONCLUSIONS: Tympanostomy tube plug composition is more similar to mucoid effusion than to blood or cerumen. Solvents to open plugged tympanostomy tubes should be directed against the components of mucoid effusion.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2002

Opening plugged tympanostomy tubes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the most effective solvents for dissolving plugged tympanostomy tubes. STUDY DESIGN: In vitro laboratory study. METHODS: Twelve solvents (including ototopical antibiotics and water) were applied to fluoroplastic tympanostomy tubes (n = 260) plugged with dried mucoid middle ear effusion in an ear canal-tympanic membrane model. Time to clearance of the tympanostomy tubes was both visually and tympanometrically determined. RESULTS: Vinegar (P =.0030) and hyaluronidase solutions (P =.0030) were significantly better solvents than water. CONCLUSION: Vinegar and hyaluronidase solutions are more likely to clear plugged tympanostomy tubes than water and ototopical antibiotics, but vinegar is the preferred solution because of its known relative safety for use in the ear.

Equipment Design↗